Kachurick Named AMCC Diver of the Year; Wallace Earns Coach of the Year

ERIE, Pa.  – Freshman Lucas Kachurick has been named Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Diver of the Year, while head coach Jen Wallace earned her fourth AMCC Men's Coach of the Year award, announced on Wednesday.

Wallace led the Lions to their fifth straight AMCC Championships, winning 17 out of the 20 events at the meet to earn 10 swimmers First-Team All-AMCC. Kachurick was the 1-meter and 3-meter diving champion, posting an AMCC-record score of 452.25 in the 1m competition.  The newcomer has qualified for nationals on numerous occasions, was named AMCC Athlete of the Week eight times and broke three school records while setting another.  Kachurick was also named Diver of the Meet at the Grove City Invitational.

Clay Altemose and Brendan Lacey were named to the All-AMCC first team in three individual events. Altemose broke the school record in the 100 back, 100 and 200 butterfly. Lacey did the same in the 200 and 500 free while winning the 100 free.  Altemose and Lacey also set the AMCC meet record in each event.

Altemose, Hunter Backenstose and Josh Weaver were named First-Team All-AMCC in three relays, while Steve Torre swam a leg on all four record-setting relay teams, both program and AMCC meet records. Backenstose was honored on the All-AMCC first team for two individual wins in the 50 free and 200 back. Torre won the 400 IM to be an all-conference selection, and Brian Mong was an All-AMCC first-team choice in the 1650 free and as a part of the 800 free relay.

Peter Blazak earned a spot on the first team after swimming a leg on the winning 200 medley relay team and as a second-team choice for his second place in the 100 fly.  Ben Strunk got his name on the first-team list with two relay wins (200 & 400 medley relay).