Tessa Dudunake Of Northampton, Mass. Garners GNAC Rookie of the Year Honors

CHICOPEE, MA (03/30/2010)(readMedia)-- Elms College freshman swimmer Tessa Dudunake of Northampton, Massachusetts was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Freshman of the Year as recently announced by the organization.

Dudunake set a new meet record and Simmons College pool record in the 100-yard individual medley, and also set an individual school record at the meet in addition to swimming a leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay squad that clocked a new GNAC record. At the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships, Dudunake claimed three individual records and was a part of each of the Blazers' five record-setting relay squads.

Head coach Bill Tyler, who was selected as GNAC Coach of the Year for the third time in his six-year career at Elms College, led both teams to their best ever finishes. The men's team won a school-record six dual meets, and finished in a program-best seventh place at the NEISDA Championship meet. On the women's side, Elms placed second at the GNAC Championships, and came in 13th at the NEISDA Championships. The Blazers also won a program-best nine dual meets during the season, including six straight to end the campaign.