The swim team gathers for a group huddle.

Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics

SJSU water polo team gets together for a group huddle.

Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics
Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics

The athletes, their families and friends of the San Jose State Women’s Swimming and Diving program gathered in the Gold Room on Saturday night to celebrate the 2010-11 season and honor their highest achievements.

In 2010-11 Spartan swimmers and divers set 16 school records and swam 10 NCAA ‘B’ Cut times.  As a team they had 64 individual and eight relay wins.

Head coach Sage Hopkins handed out six awards and named the tri-captains for the 2011-12 season.

Senior Julia Koch, who set two school records and achieved two NCAA ‘B’ Cut qualifying time’s was honored with the Most Improved award.  At the WAC Championship, she swam a 4:50.81 in the 500 freestyle and was a member of the 800 freestyle relay team that came home in 7:19.51.  Both times were NCAA ‘B’ Cuts and both set new program records.  In addition, Koch, a native of San Diego, Calif., won six individual races on the season.

“Julia had the senior year that every athlete dreams of,” Hopkins said.  “At the WAC Championship she broke two of our oldest and most challenging team records, the 500 freestyle and 800 freestyle relay.  Both performances were just amazing.  Last spring she broke her arm and missed a significant amount of training.  But, over the summer she dedicated herself in an unparalleled way, to be the best swimmer she could be.  Running stairs in the football stadium, in addition to her work in the weight room and pool last summer was a great thing to be a part of.  It was the foundation for this year’s success.”

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