LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Trinity University’s Stephen Culberson and Andrew Thiesse, along with DePauw University's John Cook, highlight an impressive list of 20 past standouts named to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference's 30th Anniversary men's swimming and diving team. Complete Release
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference will be announcing 30th Anniversary teams in 21 sports throughout the 2020-21 academic year. The league selected 15th Anniversary teams during the 2005-06 academic year – those selections can be found here.
The SCAC's 30th Anniversary teams were selected through balloting by present coaches in each sport as well as administrators. Athletes who participated in conference competition between the fall of 2005 through the spring of 2020 and had been named to at least two All-SCAC teams and/or were a selected as a Player-of-the-Year in their respective sport were eligible for selection.
Culberson was selected as one of the league’s best in both the 50 free and 100 free as well as the 100 fly. The 2014 and 2015 SCAC Swimmer-of-the-Year, the Trinity alum holds the top two fastest times in SCAC championship competition in both events as well as the league’s open record in both. Culberson earned all-American honors in the 50 free and the 100 free at both the 2014 and 2015 national meet, punctuated with a national championship in the 100 free at the 2014 NCAA Division III Championships. He was also recognized on the all-anniversary team for his efforts in the 100 fly where he was a three-time all-SCAC performer, winning the event in 2014 and 2015. He also owns the fastest time ever swam at the conference championship meet in the 100 fly. His eight individual conference titles ties for the seventh-most in league history.
Thiesse also earned all-anniversary recognition for three events – the 500 free, the 200 back and the 400 IM. The SCAC Swimmer-of-the-Year in 2016, Thiesse was a four-time all-conference honoree in the 500 free, which included first-place finishes in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He owns the fastest time in the history of the SCAC championships and the conference open mark in the 500. Thiesse was a two-time winner of the 400 IM (2015 and 2016) and took home first in the 200 back in 2016. He swam the third-fastest time in SCAC championship history in the 400 IM and was an Honorable Mention all-American in the event in 2018. He owns both the fastest championship time and the SCAC open record in the 200 back, which he posted in 2016. With his eight individual conference wins, he is tied with Culberson for the seventh-most in league history.
Cook earned all-anniversary recognition for the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free and was selected SCAC Swimmer-of-the-Year three times in his career (2008, 2009 and 2010), making him one of just two swimmers in league history to achieve that distinction. The DePauw grad was an all-American in the 100 free in 2008 and 2009 and earned Honorable Mention all-American honors a combined six times in the 50, 100 and 200 free. Cook posted six total SCAC wins in his career (tied for 16th in league history). Over a decade later, he still owns one of the five fastest times in SCAC championship history in each of the three events he is being recognized, including the third-fastest time in the 50 free, the fourth-fastest time in the 100 free and the second-fastest time in the 200 free.
Among current members, Trinity University led the way with 10 student-athletes selected to the exclusive team represented across 12 events. Colorado College followed with three selections across six events followed by Southwestern University with one honoree across two events. Former league member DePauw University had three student-athletes honored across five events, University of the South-Sewanee had two student-athletes represented across two events and Centre College had one student-athlete represented on the all-anniversary team across two events.
SCAC MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING – 30TH ANNIVERSARY TEAM
Robert Alexander, DePauw University – 50 free
John Cook, DePauw University – 50 free
Stephen Culberson, Trinity University – 50 free
John Cook, DePauw University – 100 free
Stephen Culberson, Trinity University – 100 free
Jordan DeGayner, Colorado College – 100 free
John Cook, DePauw University – 200 free
Jordan DeGayner, Colorado College – 200 free
Alex Miranda, Trinity University – 500 free
Andrew Thiesse, Trinity University – 500 free
Andrew Battles, Trinity University – 1650 free
Jacob Hurrell-Zitelman, Trinity University – 1650 free
Robert Alexander, DePauw University – 100 fly
Stephen Culberson, Trinity University – 100 fly
Eric Dallesasse, Colorado College – 100 fly
Matt Sluss, Southwestern University – 200 fly
Beau Tipton, Trinity University – 200 fly
Charles Clark, Trinity University – 100 back
Isaac Johnson, Trinity University – 100 back
Charles Clark, Trinity University – 200 back
Andrew Thiesse, Trinity University – 200 back
Elliot Fleming, Trinity University – 100 breast
Matt Kukurugya, DePauw University – 100 breast
Phillip Link, University of the South-Sewanee – 100 breast
Courtland Day, University of the South-Sewanee – 200 breast
Phillip Link, University of the South-Sewanee – 200 breast
Eric Dallesasse, Colorado College – 200 IM
Matt Sluss, Southwestern University – 200 IM
Alex Miranda, Trinity University – 400 IM
Andrew Thiesse, Trinity University – 400 IM
Ryan Cook, Trinity University – 1m diving
Austin Howlett, Colorado College – 1m diving
Dustin Schulten, Centre College – 1m diving
Ryan Cook, Trinity University – 3m diving
Austin Howlett, Colorado College – 3m diving
Dustin Schulten, Centre College – 3m diving
Other SCAC swimmers earning all-anniversary recognition in more than one event include Colorado College’s Jordan DeGayner and Eric Dallesasse, DePauw’s Robert Alexander, Trinity’s Alex Miranda and Charles Clark, the University of the South-Sewanee’s Phillip Link and Matt Sluss of Southwestern University.
DeGayner was selected to the all-anniversary team for his efforts in both the 100 free and the 200 free. A two-time SCAC Swimmer-of-the-Year (2011 and 2012), DeGayner was a three-time all-SCAC performer in both the 100 and 200 free and swept the top podium position in each event in 2011 and 2012. He was an Honorable Mention all-American in the 100 free in both 2011 and 2012, but really made his mark nationally in the 200 free. In 2012, DeGayner won the 200 free at the 2012 NCAA Division III national championship meet, becoming just the third man in conference history to earn a national title in the sport. He was a three-time all-American in the 200 free – earning Honorable Mention honors in 2010 before swimming in the final heat in both 2011 and 2012. He has the fastest and third-fastest times in SCAC championship competition in the event as well as the league’s open record.
Alexander, the 2007 SCAC Swimmer-of-the-Year, was selected for his performances in both the 50 free and the 100 fly. He swept the 50 free (as well as the 100 free) all four of his years in the SCAC – the only swimmer in the modern era of the conference to do so. He earned Honorable Mention all-American honors in the event in both 2007 and 2008. Alexander was a three-time all-SCAC performer in the 100 fly and won the event in 2007 and 2008. He earned Honorable Mention all-American honors in 2007 and was an NCAA all-American in 2008. His 10 individual titles at the conference meet are tied for the second-most in SCAC history.
Miranda received recognition for his performances in both the 500 free and the 400 IM. He was a four-time all-conference recipient in the 500, posting victories in the event in 2009, 2010 and 2012. He still owns the second-fastest time in the history of the event at the SCAC championships. Miranda was also a four-time all-SCAC honoree in the 400 IM, winning the event at the 2010, 2011 and 2012 SCAC championships and still holds the fastest and second-fastest times ever swam at the conference meet as well as the league’s open record in the event. His conference meet record in the 400 IM is the oldest individual record still on the books. Miranda is one of only three swimmers in league history to win the 500 free three or more times at the conference championship meet and holds the same distinction related to the 400 IM. He finished tied with DePauw’s Alexander with 10 individual conference titles.
Dallesasse earned all-SCAC honors in the 100 fly all four years of his career at CC, including first place finishes in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Upon graduation, he owned the second and fifth fastest times in SCAC Championship history in the event. He was also a three-time all-SCAC honoree in the 200 IM, winning the event all three of those years (2017, 2019 and 2020), and ended his career with the fastest and second fastest 200 IM swims in SCAC Championship history. He also owns the SCAC open record in the event.
Clark, the conference’s Swimmer-of-the-Year in 2018, was a four-time all-SCAC honors in the 100 back and three-time recipient for the 200 back – the events in which he received all-anniversary recognition. He earned gold medal status with first place finishes in the 100 in 2017 and 2018 and a top finish in the 200 in 2018 – making him the first male swimmer to double up with victories in the 100 and 200 back at the same SCAC championship since 2006. Clark ended his career with the fastest and second fastest times in SCAC Championship history in the 100 back and the third fastest time in the 200 back.
Link earned all-SCAC three times in both the 100 and 200 breast, winning the 100 in 2011 and 2012 and the 200 in 2011. He was an NCAA Honorable Mention All-American in both the 100 and 200 breast in 2012 and still holds the second and third fastest times in SCAC Championship history in the 200 breast.
Sluss was a three-time all-SCAC swimmer in both the 200 fly and the 200 IM, posting five first-place finishes total between the two events. He is one of just three male swimmers to win three straight 200 fly individual titles at the SCAC Championships and ended his career with the third fastest 200 fly time (now that time is fifth) in the history of the conference championship meet.
Rounding out the swimming portion of the team is Matt Kukurugya of DePauw, Courtland Day of Sewanee and Andrew Battles, Elliot Fleming, Jacob Hurrell-Zitelman, Isaac Johnson and Beau Tipton of Trinity
Kukurugya was a two-time all-SCAC honoree in the 100 breast, winning the event in both 2010 and 2011. He swam what was then the SCAC meet record (now fourth-fastest time) in 2011 – the same year he earned NCAA all-American honors in the event.
Sewanee’s Day earned all-SCAC honors each of his four years swimming the 200 breast, which included first-place finishes in 2009, 2010 and 2012. He was an NCAA Honorable Mention all-American in the 200 breast in 2010 and 2012 and owns the fastest time in SCAC Championship history in the event.
Battles and Hurrell-Zitelman – both of Trinity – were recognized for the efforts in the 1,650 free. Hurrell-Zitelman won the event three straight years from 2017 to 2019 and posted the fastest time in the history of the event as a freshman – the same year he earned SCAC Swimmer of the Year honors as well as an Honorable Mention All-America nod when he established the SCAC open record. Battles won the 1,650 in both 2009 and 2010, and in the process posted the second and fifth fastest times in the history of the event.
Fleming earned a slot on the all-Anniversary team with three all-conference performances in the 100 breast, including first-place touches in 2017 and 2018. He holds the second and fifth fastest times in the history of the event in SCAC Championship meet competition and his winning time as a sophomore stood as the conference benchmark for two years.
Trinity’s Johnson was recognized for their efforts in the 100 back. He was a three-time all-conference performer in the event, which includes victories in 2015 and 2016. Along with former teammate Charles Clark, Johnson is one of only two men in SCAC history to record a sub 50 second time in the 100 back in conference championship competition. He owns the third and fourth fastest times in the 100 back in SCAC Championship history.
Tipton won the 200 fly for three straight years – 2018, 2019 and 2020 – and was named SCAC Swimmer-of-the-Year in ’19 and ’20. Tipton has the fastest, second fastest and the fourth fastest times in SCAC Championship history in the 200 fly and currently possesses the SCAC Open record in the event. He capped the final two years of his career with NCAA Honorable Mention (2019) and all-American honors (2020) in the 200 fly.
On the diving boards, Austin Howlett of Colorado College, Ryan Cook of Trinity, and Dustin Schulten of Centre each earned all-anniversary recognition.
Howlett was a three-time winner on both the one-meter and three-meter boards – taking first place honors on the low board three straight years – 2013, 2014 and 2015 – and gold on the high board in 2012, 2013 and 2015. His six total diving titles are the second most by any diver in conference history and he owns the conference meet and open records on both boards. He was a three-time all-American on the three-meter board (2013, 2014 and 2015) and is one of just two male divers in league history to earn SCAC Diver-of-the-Year honors all four years.
From 2004 to 2008, Cook and Schulten dominated SCAC diving – with no other diver winning on either board other than these two.
Cook was also a three-time winner on the one-meter board (2005, 2007 and 2008) and bookended his career (2005 and 2008) with victories as a freshman and a senior on the three-meter. He twice earned Honorable Mention all-American honors on the 1-meter board and was a four-time all-American (twice HM; twice AA) on the three-meter board – giving him more AA awards than any male diver in SCAC history. He was the SCAC Diver-of-the-Year in 2005 and 2008.
Schulten earned three 3-meter conference titles over his career (2004, 2006 and 2007) and two 1-meter championships (2004 and 2006). At NCAA Championship competition, Schulten was a two-time Honorable Mention all-American (2005 and 2006) on the high board and earned HM all-American recognition once (2006) on the one-meter board. He earned SCAC Diver-of-the-Year honors three times (2004, 2006 and 2007).
