MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference announced its 2010-11 to 2019-20 Men’s Swimming All-Decade honors on Tuesday afternoon. Voters named sixteen student-athletes from five programs as All-Decade members. All-Decade voting took place among the league’s administrators and swimming coaches.
The SSC All-Decade awards include eleven SSC Swimmer of the Year honorees and all six individual NCAA National Champions from the league from 2010-11 to 2019-20.
Anton Lobanov (2014-17), Franco Lupoli (16-18), and Thiago Sickert (14-17), represented Nova Southeastern on the First-Team, while Oskar Nordstrand (11-13) was named to the Second-Team.
“It’s an honor for NSU Men’s Swimming to have these young men as representative on the All-Decade team. They are first class human beings, who excelled at such high levels here in the pool and classroom,” said Head Coach Ben Hewitt. “You still see their footprint on our program and their efforts continue to set the tone for future generations of Shark swimmers. I was fortunate enough to coach all four; however, I also want to share that each of them worked with Hollie Bonewit-Cron, and I know that she is extremely proud of them and their accomplishments.”
Lobanov is one of the most accomplished swimmers in the history of Nova Southeastern’s program, winning six individual national championships in his three years. Lobanov three-peated in the 100/200 breaststroke, winning the national title in each year from 2015 – 2017, while adding SSC titles in the same events and the 200/400 medley relay. He also set the NCAA record in the 100 (51.63) and 200 (1:51.71) breaststroke in 2015, which also set the standard in the Sunshine State Conference. Lobanov led the Sharks to the SSC title in 2017, and to a 3rd place finish in the NCAA National Championship Meet. Additionally, Lobanov was also named to the SSC First-Team in 2016-17, as well as the SSC Swimmer and Athlete of the Year in 2017. He earned First-Team All-American honors in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Lupoli also had a distinguished career as a member of the Sharks, winning an NCAA National Championship in 2017 and six individual Sunshine State Conference titles. Lupoli claimed the title in the 1000-yard freestyle at the NCAA National title meet and added five SSC championships in the same season. Lupoli and the Sharks earned back-to-back Sunshine State Conference titles in 2017 and 2018.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to leave a legacy for NSU Swimming,” stated Lupoli. “The sense of community within the team, brings in all factors in order to achieve peak performance, both in academics and athletics. I am proud to belong to the Shark family, and look forward to future success of the program.”
Sickert dominated the pool during his time at NSU, teaming with both Lupoli and Lobanov. Sickert earned four individual NCAA National Championships, two national runner-up finishes and an additional six Sunshine State Conference titles. In 2016, Sickert claimed the championships in the 100-freestyle and 200-fly, while also earning SSC wins in the 100/200-fly and 100-freestyle. Prior to that, Sickert also won the national championships in both the 100/200 freestyle in 2015. Sickert holds the Sunshine State Conference record in the 100-freestyle (42.98), 200-freestyle (1:35.07) and 200-fly (1:44.42) setting all three in 2015. Sickert was part of the 2017 Sunshine State Conference title team in 2017, and also helped lead the Sharks to a 3rd place finish in the NCAA Championships in 2017.
Nordstrand, selected to the All-Decade Second-Team, won the 500-freestyle NCAA National Championship in 2013, and won three Sunshine State Conference titles in the 500/1000/1650-freestyle. Nordstrand earned four top-five finishes in the NCAA National Championships during his career, including first (2013/500-free), fourth (2012/2013/1000-free), and second (2012/500-free). Nordstrand was a part of the 2012 Sunshine State Conference Championship team.
Swimming became a Sunshine State Conference sport on April 7, 2010. In the decade since, three SSC programs have hoisted the SSC Championship trophy, led by the Sharks of Nova Southeastern (5). NSU also leads in scoring performances, with ten, at the NCAA Championship meets during the decade.
2010-11 to 2019-20 SSC Men’s Swimming All-Decade First Team
Miguel Ferreira, Florida Southern (2011-13)
Allan Gutierrez, Florida Southern (2011-15)
Jeb Halfacre, Florida Southern (2011-13)
Matthew Holmes, Florida Southern (2015-19)
Anton Lobanov, Nova Southeastern (2014-17)
Franco Lupoli, Nova Southeastern (2016-18)
Brett Saunders, Tampa (2016-20)
Thiago Sickert, Nova Southeastern (2014-17)
2010-11 to 2019-20 SSC Men’s Swimming All-Decade Second Team
Matheus Assis, Saint Leo (2012-16)
Daniel Bis, Saint Leo (2014-16)
Henrik Dahrendorff, Saint Leo (2016-20)
Luis Jasso, Florida Southern (2014-18)
Oskar Nordstrand, Nova Southeastern (2011-13)
Marco Palacios, Florida Southern (2014-17)
Victor Rocha Furtado, Florida Tech (2016-17)
Luis Rojas, Florida Southern (2011-15)
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