Five Terriers Earn NSCA All-American Honors
April 12, 2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
April 12, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Five Terriers have been named All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has announced. Seniors Rachel Collins (lacrosse), Kyle Ernst (men's swimming & diving), Maria McIntyre (women's swimming & diving) and April Setterlund (softball) and junior Matt Griffin (men's basketball) received the honor.
Collins has played in 69-of-71 games for the Terriers during her four-year career, helping the BU to three straight America East championships. As a junior, the Winchester, Mass., native was named the Most Outstanding Player of the America East Championship and also garnered IWLCA Northeast All-Region and America East All-Conference First Team recognition. The senior tri-captain has collected 14 points (9g, 5a) through 11 games in 2011, while registering a team-high 33 draw controls.
"Having worked with Rachel for the past three and a half years, I have watched her continually challenge herself and her teammates to get better," head strength and conditioning Glenn Harris said. "Her efforts and focus with her training has led to continuous improvement throughout her career. Rachel leads by example and asks nothing of her teammates that she would not ask of herself."
Ernst, the 2010 America East Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet, has been an integral part of the men's swimming & diving program over the last four years. He graduates from BU in May as the school record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes and as a member of the record-breaking 200 and 400 medley relay teams.
"Kyle has shown tremendous progress and steadfast leadership both in and out of the pool over his four years," associate strength and conditioning coach Vic Brown said. "Highly respected, he was voted by his teammates to serve as a captain since his sophomore season."
Griffin was a tri-captain for the 2010-11 men's basketball team that made its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2002. He played a key role during the season as the team's sixth-man, averaging 25 minutes, 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. The Narberth, Pa., native committed himself to the weight room and was able to improve by 10 percent in the bench press, 16 percent in pull-ups and 18 percent in the vertical jump during his first year.
"Having to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules, Matt dedicated himself to the weight room during his first year at BU," Harris said. "His attitude, intensity and focus in the weight room elevates not only his game but also his teammates around him."
"Having to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules, Matt dedicated himself to the weight room during his first year at BU," Harris said. "His attitude, intensity and focus in the weight room elevates not only his game but also his teammates around him."
McIntyre finishes out her career at Boston University as the school record holder in the 50 free. She is also a member of four record-breaking relay teams - the 200 and 400 medley relays and the 200 and 400 free relays. She also helped lead the Terriers to back-to-back America East championships in 2009 and 2010.
"Maria has carried on the torch for the sprinters as they have created a high-level training culture," Brown said." "She possesses a contagious attitude, intensity and mentality that teammates can look up to."
Setterlund, one of the most prolific softball players in program history, earned this award on the heels of her celebrated junior campaign. In 2010, she was an NFCA All-America First Team selection, the America East Player of the Year and the ECAC Player of the Year, all the while breaking five single-season records. This year she has batted .392 with a .722 slugging percentage and .563 on-base percentage. She has knocked in 27 runs and connected on eight doubles. She also leads the league in stolen bases (22) and walks (28).
"April is an incredibly talented athlete who takes full advantage of her potential," assistant strength and conditioning coach Darcy Gould said. "She is a dedicated athlete both on and off the field and deserves all of the success she has had."
The NSCA All-American Athlete of the Year Award program is in its 33rd year and is made possible by a grant from Power Systems, Inc., a fitness product leader based out of Knoxville, Tenn.
