CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State swimming team closed out their year Sunday afternoon with a team banquet. The team awards were announced during the event.

“Overall, this year was one of the best if not the best years I’ve had with the team,” said senior captain Dakota Bloch. “When you get a group of people together, who share the same goals, and genuinely like each other anything is possible.”

“As a team captain I can say we worked very well together this season,” said Korina Steinbergs. “Many of us had the best year of our careers. That was a great way for me to finish off as a senior.”

All-American Sammy Harrison was named team MVP. Harrison made her third-straight NCAA National Championships and set records in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 Freestyle. Harrison also sits second all-time with the 200 Freestyle at 1:46.70, less than a second behind the top spot of Anna Crandall at 1:46.12. She holds the No. 6 best time for the 100 Freestyle at 50.70 with Crandall holding the record at 49.69.

“She continues to rewrite our record book,” said head coach Larry Liebowitz. “She is also fast approaching the record in the 200 freestyle. Once you get as fast as she is it is really difficult to continue to improve. She is one dedicated and determined athlete. Sammy is the complete athlete. She is successful because of hard work and the willingness to lay it all on the line every day in workout and in every competition.”

Sophomore Alice Ochs was named most improved on the team. Ochs had personal best times of 1:04.57 in the 100 Yard Butterfly and 1:05.04 in the 100 Yard Breaststroke.

“Her improvement over the past two years is phenomenal,” said Liebowitz. “She did it the old fashioned way with hard work and never getting discouraged even when she was way behind in the workouts.”

In addition to being one of the two seniors on the team, Bloch took the Most Inspirational award.

“Watching Dakota become the women she is now,” said Liebowitz. “No one would recognize her as a freshman. She has really become quite the leader and I am really happy she stuck it out for four years.”

Sophomore Andrea Young took home the Tough as Nails award.

“Andrea does so many things well when she swims,” said Liebowitz. “She can be used in any event and she would be ready to do it. She never misses a workout, and she always gives her best effort. She continues to improve as a swimmer and as she enters her junior year I am sure she will make some waves in the Pac-12.”

Four players were given Outstanding Performance award for individual performances during the 2014-15 season. Taylor Frank for her Pac-12 performance in the 1,650 Freestyle, Czarina Isleta for her performance in the final home event of the year against Idaho, Brooke Meyer for her 100 Butterfly at the Pac-12 Championships, and Steinbergs for her Anchor leg of the 4x50 Freestyle Relay against Idaho.

“I hope that the team can continue on a positive note,” said Bloch. “They are all very inspiring individuals and hope that they can work together to achieve greatness inside and outside of the pool.”

“We have a great nucleus of swimmers returning next season,” said Liebowitz. “I am looking forward to next year because I believe their hard work will really show up next year with some tremendous results.”