TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's and women's swimming & diving teams, under the direction of head coach Shannon O'Brien, recently handed out its season-ending awards. Seven student-athletes from the 2009-10 squads were recognized for their outstanding contributions, including freshmen Ben LeRose and Tina Belletete, who were named the Most Valuable Players.

LeRose, who hails from Williamsburg, Va., had an outstanding rookie season, garnering Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors after claiming victory in five of the seven events he competed in at the conference championships. He helped lead the charge at the UNYSCSA posting seventh or better in all seven events he was entered, including five finishes in the top five.

A former standout at Lafayette High School, LeRose was also named the team's male Rookie of the Year. A six-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection, he also helped the 400-freestyle relay team to a school record finish at the UNYSCSA Championships.

Belletete, who is from Winchendon, Mass., garnered co-Most Valuable Player honors after a season in which she was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Year, helping the squad to best-ever, finishes at both the conference and State meets. She finished third or higher in all seven events she competed in at the Liberty League Championships, including three victories and the conference record in the 1650-freestyle. A graduate of Gardner High School, Belletete set school records in three events and was a six-time conference weekly award selection.

A senior from Southbury, Conn.,Kelsey Manley was named the team's Diver of the Year. At the Liberty League Championships, she won off the 1-meter, while garnering second in the 3-meter event. Named the conference Diver of the Year for the second straight season, the Sacred Heart High School graduate, was a five-time Liberty League Diver of the Week in 2009-10.

Senior Meredith Eger (Littleton, CO/Heritage) was the recipient of this year's Coaches Award. A captain, she had an outstanding effort at the conference meet, finishing third or better in all seven events she competed. A Liberty League Swimmer of the Week honoree, she concluded her RPI career as a school record holder in four of five relays, including the 800-freestyle mark, set at the UNYSCSA Championships this season.

The Engineers' Most Improved Players were sophomores Brittany Gibbs (Manteo, NC/Manteo) and Jason Rock (Peotone, IL/Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy). Gibbs saw her times dramatically improve this season, scoring points at the Liberty League Meet in both the 100 and 200-butterfly. Rock put forth solid performances in the diving events, finishing fourth off both boards at the conference meet, while posting sixth at the State Meet in the 1-meter event.

Garnering the women's Rookie of the Year honor was freshman Mairead Lyons (Leominster, MA/Notre Dame). She won the 100-fly and the 200-free at the Liberty League Championships, where she finished top three in all seven events she was entered. The three-time conference Rookie of the Week selection also recorded two school records at the State Meet, finishing 10th or better in seven events.

Rensselaer, which is also led by head diving coach Maria Coomaraswamy-Falkenstein, had a 3-4 dual meet record on the men's side, while the women went 4-3 overall. Additionally, 14 student-athletes earned Liberty League All-Academic recognition.