Joanna Masterson ‘06 (top and bottom) has won many regional and national accolades for herself and the college’s women’s swimming team.

Hawk brings New Paltz national glory

The high-ranking performance of senior Joanna Masterson(Psychology) at the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Swimming and Diving Championships has capped an impressive fouryear athletic career.

In March 2006, the Canandaigua native finished third in the 50-yard freestyle and seventh in the 100-yard freestyle, earning her dualrecognition as an All- American athlete at the events held at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., Masterson, the lone participant for the Hawks, placed 27 out of 53 in the competition. In the 100-yard freestyle preliminary heat, she set a new varsity and conference record of 52.41 seconds.

"She has worked so hard to become the student athlete she is," said Brian Williams, coach for the women's swimming team.

In December 2005, Masterson won the Eastern College Athletic Conference at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. Her performances in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles brought the New Paltz team to third place. She won four State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championships in February and was named Most Valuable Female Swimmer for the second year in a row. Masterson was awarded the Grace Mowatt Award for athletic and academic achievement for the 2005-2006 year.

Joanna Masterson Overall, Masterson has won two conference championships in the 50-yard and 200-yard freestyles and three conference championships in the 100-yard freestyle. She was the only female recruit her freshmen year and has served as team captain for the last two years. The team has had a combined record of 20-6 in duel meets and have achieved two third-place finishes at the SUNYAC Swimming and Diving championships during her four years.

"Her importance to this team has been critical to our overall success the past four years," said Williams. "To me she is the perfect example of how hard work and attention to detail can lead to amazing results."

Story and photo by Kristin Charles

MARCH 27, 2006
Volume 4, Issue 6

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