ERIE, Pa. – Sophomore Mark Patterson (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) was named the 2016-17 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Swimmer of the Year to headline the All-AMCC team, announced on Tuesday.
Patterson was a seven-time All-AMCC first-team selection and tied for the highest-point winner at the championships to become Behrend's eighth Swimmer of the Year in school history. At the AMCC meet, Patterson was a repeat champion in the 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay. He earned his first all-conference nods in the 200 freestyle relay, 500 freestyle and the 400 free relay. Patterson set new personal records in each event he swam, while breaking eight records throughout the AMCC meet. During the season, Patterson was the team's top-point scorer throughout the dual-meet season with 17 first-place finishes and three second-place finishes, totaling 180 points.
Head coach Jen Wallace earned AMCC Coach of the Year for her eighth honor on the men's side. She mentored the Lions to their unprecedented 11th straight championship.
Nick Roth (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) was also a seven-time All-Conference choice, earning first team in six events including two individual and four relay. He also was a second-team selection for his second-place finish in the 500 freestyle. Individually, Roth claimed first in the 100 and 200 butterfly while participating in the winning 200 freestyle relay, 400 medley relay, 800 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. In the 200 butterfly, he set a new team, pool, AMCC meet and open record to win the event for the fourth straight year.
Nick Kost (Ashburg, VA/Stone Bridge) was a five-time All-AMCC first-team honoree and tied with Patterson for the highest-pointer winner of the championships. The 2016 AMCC Swimmer of the Year, was the individual champion in the 200 IM, 400 IM and the 200 breaststroke. In the breaststroke, he set a new team and pool record. Kost also joined Patterson and Roth in the victorious 800 freestyle relay that broke four records and the 400 freestyle relay.
Ryan Siggins (Erie, PA/Iroquois) was a six-time All-AMCC selection. He won the 100 freestyle and was a member of the winning 200 freestyle relay, 400 medley relay, 800 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Siggins also finished runner up in the 200 freestyle for second-team honors.
Quinn Fischer (Fairview, PA/Cathedral Prep) was a part of the winning 200 freestyle relay, while placing second in the 200 freestyle and the 200 medley relay for three All-AMCC accolades.
Blair Carson (Wellsboro, PA/Wellsboro), Ryan Elsey (Hermitage, PA/Hickory), and Ethan Halmi (Erie, PA/McDowell) were two-time All-Conference choices for the Lions. Carson was first team for the 400 medley relay and second for the 200 medley relay. Elsey was the individual champion in the 100 breaststroke and second in the 200 breaststroke, while Halmi was runner up in both 1-meter and 3-meter diving for second-team accolades.
Rounding out the All-AMCC team is Jeremy Brosius (Hatboro, PA/Hatboro-Horsham), Brady Mattson (Wilmington, DE/Delaware Military Academy) and Keith Powell (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park). Mattson picked up his first-ever gold medal in the 1650 freestyle, while Brosius and Powell were members of the second-place 200 medley relay.
