NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Silvia Valeria Avila Estrada (Zapopan, Mexico) of the Albertus Magnus College women's swimming team was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Rookie of the Year after her performance during the conference championships over the weekend.

Avila Estrada becomes the first swimmer in Albertus history to take home a major conference award.

During the weekend, Avila Estrada won three events for the Falcons.

In the 400-yard individual medley, she won with a time of 4:51.72, earning 20 points for the Falcons. She also earned 20 points in both the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard breaststroke with wins in those events. In the 100-yard breaststroke, Avila Estrada had a time of 1:11.03 and in the 200-yard breaststroke, she had a time of 2:34.69.

Avila Estrada also finished seond in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 55.94, earning the team 17 points.

Along with the Rookie of the Year honors, she also earned All-Conference honors for finishing in the top three for those events.

Nicole Irizarry (New Haven, Conn.) was named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

MAJOR AWARDS

Swimmer of the Year - Carli Quinlan, Simmons
Diver of the Year - Reilly Laitala, Norwich
Rookie of the Year - Silvia Valeria Avila Estrada, Albertus Magnus
Coach of the Year - Michael Prout Jr., Simmons
Institutional Sportsmanship - Saint Joseph's (Maine)

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP

Nicole Irizarry, Albertus Magnus
Auxana Newell, Elms
Kaylin Creel, Norwich
Riley Aptt, Regis
Elise Soucy, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Camelia Hannah, Simmons
Amy Mamica, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)