April 1, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference men’s swimming and diving awards for 2009 boasts a pair of All-Americans as Georgia Tech took two of the four individual superlatives announced Wednesday by the league office. Gal Nevo of Georgia Tech was named ACC Swimmer of the Year, while Miami’s Reuben Ross became the first repeat ACC Diver of the Year. Georgia Tech’s Nigel Plummer took ACC Freshman of the Year while Virginia’s Mark Bernardino tallied ACC Coach of the Year recognition. The awards were determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.

Making his mark in just his first year of competition in the ACC, Nevo became Georgia Tech’s first postseason honoree as he was named ACC Swimmer of the Year. A product of Kibbutz Hamadia, Israel, the individual medley specialist earned a pair of All-America performances by finishing second in the 400 IM and fourth in the 200 IM at the NCAA Championships. In the 400 IM, Nevo’s time of 3:38.00 set a new ACC record and was good enough to best the previous NCAA record. Nevo also set a new league standard in the 200 IM with a time of 1:42.79. At the 2009 ACC Championships, Nevo swept the individual medley titles to lead Georgia Tech to a fourth place finish, the Yellow Jackets’ best since 2003.

Ross earned his second consecutive ACC Diver of the Year honor after posting three All-America finishes at the NCAA Championships. The Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, native was a unanimous selection after he finished third on the platform as well as seventh on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. At the 2009 ACC Championships, Ross earned first place on both the 1m and 3m boards as well as a runner-up finish on the platform. The Hurricane diver earns Miami’s fourth Diver of the Year accolade in the fifth year of the award.

Plummer, a Stone Mountain, Ga. native, shined in his first season with the Yellow Jackets to take freshman of the Year honors. He opened his first league meet with a first-place finish in the 50 free, clocking in at 19.54 which ultimately earned him a trip to the NCAA Championships. Plummer finished 60th at the national meet in the splash-and-dash event. Plummer was also instrumental in Georgia Tech’s 200 free relay championship team, which set a new league record in the win.

Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino picked up another accolade for his display case this year, as he was voted ACC Coach of the Year by his peers for the 15th time. Earlier today, Bernardino received the league’s coaching honor on the women’s side to make a sweep of both accolades for second consecutive season. The native of Drexel Hill, Pa., led his Cavaliers to their 12th championship crown as Virginia outpaced the competition at the 2009 ACC Championships in February with 832 points, the fifth-highest total in ACC history. In 2009, Bernardino’s squad produced two NCAA All-Americans (Matt McLean and Scott Robison), one NCAA All-America relay team (800 freestyle), six NCAA All-America Honorable Mention, six ACC individual champions, three ACC championship relay teams, and 11 All-ACC performers.

ACC Swimmer of the Year
Gal Nevo, Georgia Tech

ACC Diver of the Year
Reuben Ross, Miami

ACC Freshman of the Year
Nigel Plummer, Georgia Tech

ACC Coach of the Year
Mark Bernardino, Virginia