RICHMOND, VA -- Five members of the 2005-06 University of Delaware women’s swimming and diving team have been recognized as All-Colonial Athletic Association based on their performances at the CAA Championships back in February.

All swimmers and divers who placed in the top three at the CAA Championships, which were held Feb. 22-25 at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, were honored.

Blue Hens earning All-CAA honors were freshman Sarah Begley (Conestoga/Berwyn, PA), freshman diver Alyson Oliver (Suncoast/West Palm Beach, FL - at right), freshman Emily Smathers (McKean/Newark, DE), freshman Lauren Southard (Watkins Mills/Montgomery Village, MD), and freshman Maryann Walker (Mt. Hebron/Ellicott City, MD).

Begley placed third in the 100 butterfly in 56.98 and teamed with Southard, Smathers, and Walker for a second place finish in the 400 medley relay (3:53.89). Oliver placed third in the one-meter diving event with 248.75 points. They led Delaware to a fifth place team finish at the championships after placing ninth the year before.

Oliver also placed seventh in the three-meter dive while Southard was fifth in the 200 breaststroke, fifth in the 100 breaststroke, eighth in the 200 freestyle relay, and eighth in the 200 medley relay.

Walker also placed fifth in the 200 backstroke (school record time of 2:06.17), seventh in the 800 freestyle relay, eighth in the 400 freestyle relay, eighth in the 200 freestyle, and eighth in the 200 medley relay, Smathers was seventh in the 100 backstroke (school record time of 58.61) and seventh in the 200 backstroke, and Begley was also eighth in the 400 freestyle relay and eighth in the 200 freestyle relay.

Davidson senior Megan Holler was named CAA Women’s Swimmer of the Year, Drexel freshman Kate Hynes was named Diver of the Year and Freshman Diver of the Year, Northeastern freshman Elena Alvarez was named Freshman Swimmer of the Year, UNC Wilmington head coach Dave Allen was named Coach of the Year, and Drexel’s Larry May was named Diving Coach of the Year.