Swimming & diving program, coach recognized nationally

Photo: Roy Viera.

Talk about making a splash: FIU swimming & diving recently was recognized as a Female Breakout Team and a Championship Performance honoree when the 2011-12 College Swimming & Diving Honors were announced earlier this month by collegeswimmingawards.com. Diving Coach Chris Mantilla was recognized as one of the top assistants of the year.

The Panthers were touted as one of eight female breakout teams and also honored for their 2012 Sun Belt Conference Championship performance where FIU swept all the conference swimmer, diver and coaches of the year awards. During the season, the Panthers collectively broke 10 program records and four Sun Belt Conference records and claimed five Sun Belt championships. The team also had nine medalists and 13 finalists in the SBC Championships.

Mantilla also was recognized as one of the top eight assistants in the country for his tutelage of sophomore Sabrina Beaupre. The Canadian student-athlete earned the SBC Diver of the Year award for the second consecutive year after taking home both diving titles. She captured the 1-meter and 3-meter diving titles and set Sun Belt records in the process.