Team Awards Given Out

May 11, 2004

At the Aquatics banquet following the end of the women's swimming team's undefeated season, several individual awards were given out. Senior Natalie Coughlin, who finished her final season a three-time NCAA Swimmer of the Year and won 11 individual NCAA titles in her career, won the team MVP Award.

Junior Erin Calder, who finished 42nd at NCAAs in the 200-meter breaststroke, won the award for Most Improved. Junior Emma Palsson, an All-American member of Cal's 200 freestyle relay team and a Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention, won the Golden Bear Award. Sophomore Gina Merlone, a fourth-generation Cal student who is an intended English major with a religious studies minor, won the Scholastic Award.

Senior Micha Burden and sophomore Ashley Chandler were co-recipients of the Coaches Award. Burden contributed to Cal's NCAA Champion 800-meter freestyle relay team and the Pac-10 Champion 800-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay teams. Chandler set a new school record in the 400 meter freestyle to finish fourth in the event at NCAA Championships and was a member of the NCAA Champion 800 meter freestyle relay team.

Women's Swimming Team Awards 2004

MVP--Natalie CoughlinMost Improved--Erin CalderGolden Bear Award---Emma PalssonScholastic Award---Gina MerloneCoaches Award---Micha Burden and Ashley Chandler

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