Northwestern University Athletics
Tierney, Balcerzak Honored by State
5/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
May 11, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern women's swimming coach Jimmy Tierney was honored as the Illinois Swimming Association (ISA) University Division Women's Coach of the Year, while Wildcat senior Amy Balcerzak (Sharon, Pa./Peddie School) was named the ISA's University Division Women's Swimmer of the Year. The honors were announced recently by the ISA, and were selected by votes of the collegiate and university coaches of Illinois.
Tierney guided the Wildcats to a best-ever sixth-place finish at this year's NCAA Championships, in addition to a third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships for the second year in a row. Nine different swimmers were awarded All-America honors this year, and Northwestern captured a best-ever five individual titles to go with a relay championship at the Big Ten meet in February.
Balcerzak earned five All-America honors at this year's NCAA meet, giving her 20 for her career. She also had her best finish ever at the national championships, finishing second in the 100 breaststroke. At the Big Ten meet, she defended her crowns in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, and also swam on Northwestern's winning 200 medley relay team. A standout student, as well, Balcerzak was named to the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team in the women's fall/winter at-large category earlier this month.
