Parkland graduate named Atlantic 10's most outstanding rookie swimmer

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FROM KEITH GROLLER

Orefield’s Megan Polaha Named Atlantic 10 Women’s Swimming Most Outstanding Rookie

Freshman Wins 200-Yard Butterfly in Meet Record Time; Sets Two School Records

Geneva, Ohio - Fordham University freshman swimmer Megan Polaha (Parkland) was named the Atlantic 10 Women’s Swimming Most Outstanding Rookie at the 2014 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championship held from February 19-22 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

Polaha (seen at right receiving her award) helped the Fordham women’s swimming & diving team to a second place finish at the Atlantic 10 meet, marking the fifth time in the last six years that Fordham has finished either first or second at the A-10 championships.

Polaha won one event, scored in two others, and took part in three scoring relays.  For her exploits, Polaha was named the Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Women's Rookie, the second Fordham woman to earn the honor, joining Courtney Collyer in 2009.

Polaha took first in the 200-yard butterfly in 1:58.51, surpassing the former A-10 and Fordham record of 1:59.42 set by Collyer in 2012 and earning First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors.  Her time of 1:58.51 was also an NCAA “B” cut qualifying time.

Polaha set her second school record in the 400-yard individual medley event, placing fourth overall in 4:19.72, breaking the old mark of 4:21.04, set by Collyer in 2011.  She also scored in the 200-yard individual medley, taking sixth in a season-best time of 2:03.09.

Polaha also earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors as a part of the 400 medley relay, which placed second in 3:44.26.  She also participated in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:34.93) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:27.11), which both placed sixth.

Polaha’s run at the Atlantic 10 Championship capped a superb freshman campaign, where she was named Atlantic 10 Performer of the Week once, as well as Rookie of the Week once this season.

Pictures attached are Polaha receiving her gold medal in the 200 butterfly (center), and Polaha receiving her Outstanding Rookie Award from Lucas Feller of the Atlantic 10 Conference.