April 9, 2012
TUCSON, Ariz. -
Senior Ben Grado (Conifer, Colo.) and diving coach Omar Ojeda were named Pac-12 diver and coach of the year, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott announced on Monday.
Grado became the first diver to sweep all three events at the Pac-12 Championships since Arizona State’s Micky Benedetti in 2008. He was the first Wildcat to capture a Conference title since Ojeda won six events from 2001 to 2002.
Grado then capped his collegiate career by becoming the first diver in Arizona history to win the platform title at the NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Wash., with a score of 487.25. He also placed ninth on the 1-meter and 3-meter.
Ojeda completed his first season leading his alma mater. He coached two of his divers, Andres Guerra and Grado, at the NCAA Championships. Ojeda was a five-time All-American for Arizona from 2000 to 2002, earning Pac-10 Men’s Diver of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
For complete results and continued coverage of Arizona Men’s Swimming, visit ArizonaWildcats.com or follow @ArizonaSwimming on Twitter.
COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS
Women's Swimming:
Swimmer of the Year – Caitlin Leverenz, Cal
Freshman/Newcomer of the Year – Maddy Schaefer, Stanford
Coach of the Year – Teri McKeever, Cal
Men's Swimming:
Swimmer of the Year – Tom Shields, Cal
Freshman/Newcomer of the Year – David Nolan, Stanford
Coach of the Year – David Durden, Cal
Women's Diving:
Diver of the Year – Victoria Ishimatsu, USC
Freshman/Newcomer of the Year – Emma Ivory-Ganja, UCLA
Coach of the Year – Hongping Li, USC
Men's Diving:
Diver of the Year – Ben Grado, Arizona
Freshman/Newcomer of the Year – Kristian Ipsen, Stanford
Coach of the Year – Omar Ojeda, Arizona
