La Verne Swimming & Diving announced its award winners for the 2012-13 campaign at its annual team banquet on Friday, May 3 in La Verne.

Headlining the group of award winners were All-Americans Maddie Lovrensky, named the Most Valuable Performer, and Marc Okimura who was the recipient of the Leopard Award.  

Additionally, Julia Yeung was named Most Improved while both Coleman Goode and Felipe Avendano Villa were co-winners of the Most Promising Newcomer Award.

Lovrensky earned All-America honors in the 100 yard backstroke by taking sixth overall at the NCAA Championships.  She also captured both the 100 and 200 backstroke events at the SCIAC Championships en route to setting two SCIAC records.  She was also a finalist for the Elite 89 Award this year which recognizes both academic and athletic excellence.

Okimura earned distinction as a two-time All-America this season after placing fifth in the 200 breaststroke while posting a seventh place finish in the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships. "The Leopard Award reflects the person's love of and contribution to team, a part of every single thing it takes for this team to succeed," said Skehan.   "Marc got it done in the pool at the highest level but even more he led each one of us to be the best we could be.  No one did more for this group success than Marc."

The second-year head coach also said that the tie for Most Promising Newcomer Award aptly reflected the Leopard identity.  Felipe was a freshman rookie who became a power player while Coleman was a transfer rookie who scored big for us in many areas and anywhere we needed him," said Skehan.  "I look forward to all they will bring us in the future."