WASHINGTON -- The Atlantic 10 Conference continued its commitment to women’s sports by adding four women’s sports in 1981. Building upon its dedication to women’s sports, the league added women’s swimming and diving in 1989-90 with West Virginia taking the inaugural title. That same season marked the first time the league sponsored more women’s sports than men’s.
West Virginia Mountaineers won three straight A-10 Women’s Swimming and Diving titles with the Mountaineers’ Renee Riccio claiming the first Swimmer of the Year award. St. Bonaventure proceeded by clinching three consecutive crowns from 1996-98. The Bonnies’ Anna Belliveau earned her first of two Most Outstanding Performer awards in the 1997-98 season when St. Bonaventure claimed its third straight title.
But it was the Richmond Spiders who cemented their legacy as an Atlantic 10 women’s swimming and diving powerhouse. In Richmond’s first year in the Atlantic 10, the Spiders quickly made an impact capturing their first A-10 Women’s Swimming and Diving title. The Spiders rattled off eight straight banners from 2002-09 before winning another seven straight from 2011-17.
Richmond’s dominance impacted the league in more ways than one. The Spiders’ student-athletes were honored with the Most Outstanding Performer award 11 times in 12 seasons. That included three student-athletes who earned the award twice: Mary Adams, Jessica Witt and Lauren Beaudreau. Mali Kobelja was honored with the award for three straight years from 2011-14.
George Washington established its dynasty in the 2019-20 campaign when the Revolutionaries won its first ever league title. GW captured the crown again in 2021-22 beginning a streak of four straight titles. The Revolutionaries hold six A-10 records, including four of the relays. Ava DeAngelis and Ava Topolewski broke the 100-yard breaststroke and 1,650-yard freestyle, respectively, in 2023-24. GW’s Olivia Paquette also claimed the Most Outstanding Diving Performer award in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Eight universities have captured the A-10 Women’s Swimming and Diving title in the sport’s 32-year existence. The A-10 has crowned 21 student-athletes as Most Outstanding Peformer and 23 student-athletes as Most Outstanding Diving Performer.
YEAR SWIMMER DIVER
2024-25 Ali Tyler (GM) Olivia Paquette (GW)
2023-24 Ainhoa Martin (FOR) Olivia Paquette (GW)
2022-23 Jacquee Clabeaux (GM) Amy Read (DUQ)
2021-22 Shelby Stanley (DAV) Phoebe Shaya (LAS)
2020-21 Shelby Stanley (DAV) Marina Toone (MASON)
2019-20 Mia Bullock (FOR) Maja Boric (UM)
2018-19 Hannah Gouger (UR) Katie Polk (UM)
2017-18 Lina Kutsko (SBU) Emma Roush (UM)
2016-17 Elise Lankiewicz (DAV) Emma Roush (UM)
2015-16 Elise Lankiewicz (DAV) Emma Roush (UM)
2014-15 Elise Lankiewicz (DAV) Irina Chiulli (UR)
2013-14 Mali Kobelja (UR) Michaela Butler (UM)
2012-13 Mali Kobelja (UR) Michaela Butler (UM)
2011-12 Mali Kobelja (UR) Michaela Butler (UM)
2010-11 Lauren Hines (UR) Molly Elkins (UM)
2009-10 Lillian Falconer (URI) Hannah Swift, (UM)/
Anna Larson (SLU)
2008-09 Lauren Beaudreau (UR) Karen Upperco (UM)
2007-08 Jessica Witt (UR) Karen Upperco (UM)
2006-07 Lauren Beaudreau (UR) Katie Gifford (LAS)
2005-06 Jessica Witt (UR) Karen Upperco (UM)
2004-05 Mary Adams (UR) Katura Horton-Perinchief (GW)
2003-04 Brooke Boncher (UR) Maureen Theis (SBU)
2002-03 Mary Adams (UR) Kate Allery (UM)
2001-02 Becky Hunnewell (UM) Melanie Coots (LAS)
2000-01 Becky Hunnewell (UM) Melanie Coots (LAS)
1999-00 Erin Milfeit (VT) Melanie Coots (LAS)
1998-99 Anna Belliveau (SBU) Jackie Davoud (VT)
1997-98 Anna Belliveau (SBU) Jackie Davoud (VT)
1996-97 Dina Dormer (LAS) Angelique Rodriguez (UM)
1995-96 Dina Dormer (LAS)
1994-95 Bambi Bowman (GW) Corrianne Eberhardt (RU)
1993-94 Bambi Bowman (GW) Allison White (UM)
1992-93 Renee Riccio (WVU) Barb Vassallo (SBU)