Cara Lane and Brian Vahaly Named Virginia's Top Athletes

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May 2, 2001

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Cara Lane (women’s swimming & diving) and Brian Vahaly (men’s tennis)were honored as the University of Virginia’s top female and male athletesfor the 2000-01 academic year at Virginia’s annual awards dinner Wednesday(May 2) at University Hall. Lane received the IMP Award as the top femaleathlete and Vahaly received the WINA Award as the top male athlete.

Lane, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., was the Atlantic CoastConference Women’s Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive year in2001. She won ACC titles in the 500-yard freestyle, the 1650-yardfreestyle and the 200-yard butterfly at the 2001 ACC Championships. Shewas named the meet’s Most Valuable Swimmer for the second consecutive year.Lane established ACC, ACC Meet and UVa pool records in winning the1650-freestyle with a time of 15:58.64. A three-time ACC Swimmer of theWeek selection during the 2000-01 season, she also established an ACC Meetrecord in winning the 500-freestyle (4:43.55) and a pool record in winningthe 200-butterfly (1:59.03).

Lane won the mile freestyle and earned first-team All-Americahonors for the second consecutive year at the NCAA Championships with atime of 15:53.86. She also earned first-team All-America honors byfinishing third in the 500-freestyle (4:39.61) and eighth in the 200-yardbutterfly (2:02.14). She was an honorable mention All-American as a memberof UVa’s 800-yard freestyle relay team.

Vahaly, a senior from Atlanta, Ga., was the ACC Men’s Tennis Playerof the Year for the second consecutive year in 2001. Currently a two-timeAll-American, Vahaly was an All-ACC selection for the fourth consecutiveyear. He won ACC flight champion honors at No. 1 singles and finishedundefeated in conference singles play for the second consecutive season.

Vahaly lost just three ACC singles matches in four years and onlyone the last three seasons. He is currently the 14th-ranked singles playerin the nation and has a record of 35-5. His 35 singles victories tie hisown Virginia record for most victories in a season. Vahaly and teammateHuntley Montgomery are currently the top-ranked doubles team in the nationwith an overall record of 31-6.

Barbara Yowell, an administrative and program specialist in theathletic department business office, received the Bus Male Service Awardfor her years of service to Virginia athletics.

Katie Tracy (Richmond, Va.) of the women’s soccer and basketballteams, and Vahaly received Virginia’s ACC Scholar-Athlete Awards. Tracyalso received the Jettie Hill Memorial Award as the senior femalestudent-athlete with the highest scholastic average through her four yearsat UVa. Robert Schwieters (Centreville, Va.) of the men’s track and fieldteam received the Gus Tebell Memorial Award as the senior malestudent-athlete with the highest scholastic average through his four yearsat Virginia.

Lorraine Vizzuzo (Fairfield, N.J.) of the field hockey team was therecipient of the Craig Fielder Award for overcoming adversity and KristenDennis (Encinitas, Calif.) of the softball team received the Ralph SampsonScholarship Award. Meaghan Young (Shrewsbury, Mass.) of the softball teamreceived the Virginia Athletic Department’s Distinguished Student-AthleteScholarship Award and Marion Mason (Ft. Belvoir, Va.) of the men’s trackand field team received the Ernest H. Ern, Jr. Award for outstandingcontributions to student life at Virginia.

Kathy Allen of the women’s basketball team was the recipient of theBob Goodman Memorial Award for her service to Virginia athletics as a teammanager and Elizabeth Codjoe (field hockey and track & field) received theTim Abbott Memorial Award presented to the assistant athletic trainer mostdedicated to and possessing empathy for the student-athletes. Kelly McCabe(Maple Glen, Pa.) of the softball team was the recipient of the Susan J.Grossman Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding service tostudent-athletes and contributions to the Student Athlete Mentor Program.

Virginia’s ACC Top VI Award recipients included Jason Bernd(wrestling, Virginia Beach, Va.), Butch Jefferson (football, Forest, Va.),Marion Mason (men’s track and field), Kelly McCabe (softball), Katie Tracy(women’s soccer and basketball) and Sasha Wilson (women’s soccer,Charlottesville, Va.).