Tigers Wrap Up the Season with Annual Banquet and Team Awards

Stockton, Calif. – Pacific’s men’s and women’s swim teams concluded the 2010-11 season with a celebration of their annual banquet on Saturday, April 23, with seven swimmers being recognized for their contributions to Pacific’s swim teams throughout the 2010-11 academic year. The seven swimmers recognized at this year’s banquet were Zachary Zlotoff, Kevin Schirmer, Danny Platow and David Hernandez of the men’s team. While Lia Santini, Allie Vetterlein and Jenna Chaplin of the women’s swim team were honored.

Zlotoff was recognized as the Ironman Award recipient in recognition of his dedication, work ethic and unselfish commitment to the team which distinguished him amongst his male swimming peers. For the second consecutive season Santini was the recipient of the Ironwman Award for her dedication, work ethic and unselfish commitment to the team which distinguished her amongst her female swimming peers.

Earning this season’s Most Inspirational Female and Male awards were Vetterlein and Schirmer. Each season the Most Inspirational Female and Male Awards are given to the Pacific female and male swimmer whose promise and persistent hard work leads to extraordinary improvement.

The honor of receiving the male and female Pacific Tiger Award for the 2010-11 season was given to Platow and Chaplin. Every season the Pacific Tiger Award is given to the male and female Pacific swimmer who exemplifies the spirit, dedication, and competitive excellence of Pacific’s swimming program.

Finally, Hernandez was named the recipient of the Renaissance Award for the year. The Renaissance Award is given to the Pacific swimmer who has managed their commitment to be successful in and out of the water at the highest level of sport and study. The award is given to one member of Pacific Swimming who has remained in good academic standing as a full-time swimmer as well as achieving the highest grade point average for the previous season’s spring semester and fall semester of study of the current season.

Five seniors were also recognized as part of the ceremonies. This season’s recognized seniors were Danny Platow, Tyler Hannis, Chris Berg, Steven Woods and David Hernandez of Pacific’s men’s swim team.

In addition to recognizing the seven swimmers for their contributions to Pacific’s swim teams and the graduating senior class, Jayme Swlain and Kevin Byers were announced as the women’s and men’s swim team captain for the 2011-12 season, respectively.

Chris Berg
Chris Berg came to Pacific from Chico, Calif., and is the son of Grant and Paula Berg. Joining the Tigers in 2009 after spending two years at Santa Rosa Junior College, Chris was a backstroke and IM specialist for the Tigers. He chose Pacific over Chico State and Cal Poly because he liked the swim team and the school.

In his second year at Pacific, Chris is pursuing a degree in sport sciences with a concentration in sports medicine and will graduate in May. Chris describes his favorite Pacific moment as waking up at 5:00 AM and pulling pool tarps.

His proudest athletic accomplishments have been swimming throughout college and at a Division-I program in addition to winning the team’s Ironman award last season. Pacific’s Ironman Award recognizes work ethic and unselfish commitment to the sport.

Chris would like to thank the team for helping him get through all the hard work. To his parents he says, “thank you for putting up with me for 22 years. I love you”

Tyler Hannis
Tyler Hannis came to Pacific from Santa Rosa, Calif., and is the son of Michael and Terry Hannis. Tyler joined the Tigers in 2009 after two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College and he quickly became one of Pacific’s top backstrokers. He chose Pacific over UCSD, UNLV, Davis, Bakersfield, and Cal Poly for the university’s great academic reputation, its location, and more importantly, the closeness of the team.

In his second year at Pacific, Tyler is a political science major and will graduate in May. His top goal this season was to help the team win their fist MPSF Championships Title. Tyler’s favorite Pacific memories are the 2010 Training Trip in Maui, Hawaii followed closely by the 2011 Training Trip in Stockton.

To the team, Tyler leaves, “I know getting up at 5 AM gets old quick, but remember swimming for all the good things that it has brought you. There will always be ups and downs, but stick through it – it will be worth in the end.”

He would like to say to his parents, “Thanks for dragging me out of bed, sitting through those cold meets, and just putting up with me in general. You are the best parents I could have ever asked for.”

David Hernandez
David came to Pacific from Chico, Calif., and is the son of Michael and Jill Hernandez. He transferred to the Pacific after spending two years at Santa Rosa Junior College and brought a depth of experience and strength to the Tigers in the butterfly and freestyle sprint events. He chose Pacific over Cal Poly and CSU-Bakersfield for the look of campus, small class sizes, the sports medicine department, and the awesome spirit of the team.

His proudest athletic accomplishment to date was being selected as the 2009 National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrations National Scholar Athlete of the Year and his favorite Pacific memory was the 2010 training trip in Maui, Hawaii.

David would like to thank the team for the great time. “I will keep all of you in my thoughts, especially at 5:00 AM when I am still sleeping and you guys are waking up”. He thanks his parents for all the support and for raising him to be as strong and smart as they are.

In his second year at Pacific, David is a majoring in sports sciences with a concentration in sports medicine and will graduate in May.

Daniel Platow
Team Captain for the 2010-11 season, Danny came to Pacific from Westport, Conn., and is the son of Maura and Bill Marden. He chose Pacific over Bucknell and Colgate University because he got along really well with the team and wanted to swim and go to school with his two brothers, Dave and Christopher. Danny’s Tiger career has been nothing but pure improvement. A multiple conference finalist in the backstroke events, he currently ranks among the best backstrokers in the team. His top athletic goal this season was to help the team win an MPSF title.

In his fourth year at Pacific he is pursuing a degree in business with a concentration in finance and will graduate in May. Some of his accomplishments while at Pacific include being a member of the Business Honors Society, Beta Gamma Sigma, multiple Big West conference academic awards, and being elected the team captain for the 2010-11 Season.

Danny would like to thank his teammates for keeping him motivated. “I couldn’t have done it without you – let’s go win an MPSF title”.

To his parents he says, “thank you for all the love and support, and Mom, I miss and think about you everyday.”

Steven Woods
Steven came to Pacific from Walnut Creek, Calif., and is the son of Moira Woods. He came to Pacific after spending two seasons at Diablo Valley College and chose Pacific over UC Davis for the swim team– “they showed me a team that is like no other – a family” Steven’s contribution to the Tiger program has been immense, recording top times in the conference for Pacific in the sprint events and posting a Pacific all-time top-10 performance in the 50 free.

In his second year at Pacific Woods is majoring in communication and will graduate in May.

Steven would like to say to the team, “You’ve been awesome – to my brothers, it has been even better with you guys getting through any type of training together that the coaches throw at us with our heads high and a smile on our faces.” To his mom, Steven would like to say, “Mom, without you I would never have gotten to this point in my life. Thank you for always being there supporting whatever decisions I have made. All my friends tell me that you are the greatest Mom in the world, and I always respond, yes she is. I love you”