Charlotte, N.C.-After helping to lead the men’s and women’s swim teams to back-to-back national titles, Dion Dreesens and Patricia Castro-Ortega were named the March Male and Female InterCon Student-Athletes of the Month. They claim the school award after both were named NCAA Swimmer of the Meet for their outstanding performances at the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championship.
Dreesens took four wins and set three national records during the month. He set the national record for the 200 yard freestyle (1:32.46), 500 yard freestyle (4:17.09), and helped set a national record for the 800 yard freestyle relay (6:23.62). Additionally, he won the 1000 yard freestyle with a 9:01.79 first place touch.
Castro-Ortega landed as one of the fastest women in DII history breaking four NCAA records in the 200 yard individual medley (1:55.63), 400 yard individual medley (4:08.56), 500 yard individual medley, and the 100 yard freestyle (1:44.44). She also swam in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:20.27) and the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:12.96), at the national championship, to see wins in both of these events. Castro-Ortega has also been nominated for the Honda Women’s Athlete of the Year award.
Currently, both swimmers are for their trip to Rio, Brazil to swim in the 2016 Summer Olympics for their home countries.
Press Release Courtesy of Queens University Athletics.