AWARDS
2022-2023 OREGON SWIMMING - TOP 5
Final report: 
(updated 11/16)
2021-2022 OSI Top 5
NOVEMBER 20, 2022
Senior Coach of the Year:
Emily Melina (LOSC)
Gary Leach Age Group Coach of the Year:
Gary Roberson (HEAT)
Coaches Excellence Award:
Female Athlete of the Year:
Katherine Adams (THSC)
Male Athlete of the Year (and Swim of the Year):
Nick Simons (LOSC)
Collegiate Athlete of the Year:
James J Richardson Award:
USA Swimming Outstanding Service Award:
Jon Arlin Adaptive Swimming Award:
Top 5 report (last updated 11/16/2022)
2020-2021 OSI Top 5
The 2020-2021 Oregon Swimming Top 5 awards was held virtually on November 21st. Congratulations to all the Top 5 nominees and recipients!
2021 Award Recipients
Senior Coach of the Year:
Emily Melina (LOSC)
Gary Leach Age Group Coach of the Year:
Gary Roberson (HEAT)
Coaches Excellence Award:
Alex Nikitin (LOSC)
Female Athlete of the Year:
Lizzy Cook (THSC)
Male Athlete of the Year (and Swim of the Year):
Nick Simons (LOSC)
Collegiate Athlete of the Year:
Kaitlyn Dobler (TDPS)
James J Richardson Award:
Shelly Rawding and Rhonda Soule
USA Swimming Outstanding Service Award:
Rhonda Soule
Jon Arlin Adaptive Swimming Award:
Tanner Fixsen
2020 Award Recipients
Female Athlete of the Year
- Kaitlyn Dobler
Male Athlete of the Year
- Ethan Heasley
Senior Coach of the Year
:
Nacim Boufferache
Gary Leach Age Group Coach of the Year
:
Michael Woodward
Coaches Excellence Award
:
Nathan Templeman
Dick Parker Award: Pat Allender
Jon Arlin Adaptive Swimming Award
:
Adin Williams
James J Richardson Award
:
Rex Watkins
USA Swimming Outstanding Service Award
:
Emily Melina
TOP 5
THE OREGON SWIMMING/JAMES J. RICHARDSON AWARD
James J. Richardson was a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner who came to Oregon, managed the Multnomah Athletic Club, and was one of the original founders of the Oregon AAU in 1935. He also served as chairman of the board of OAAU and was active in all sports - boxing, swimming, etc.
The award was presented to the Swim Committee in 1966 by the Boxing Committee in his memory. The award has been presented almost every year. It is given to the outstanding long term contributor to the sport of Aquatics in Oregon Swimming. The person receiving the award may be Athlete, Coach, Official, Teacher, Instructor, Parent, Volunteer, Writer, or Athletic/Recreational personnel.
UNITED STATES SWIMMING OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
The Outstanding Service Award was established in 1981 to recognize the invaluable contribution of volunteer service to United States Swimming, Inc. The award, sponsored by the Phillips Petroleum Company, is presented annually to an honoree named by each of the 59 Local Swimming Committees. Selection criteria considers quality, level, and years of volunteer service in elected or appointed positions from among the categories of administrator, official and coach, with emphasis on contributions made in the last year or two.
United States Swimming and Phillips Petroleum Company take great pride in honoring the role of the volunteer as an important investment in the future of all swimming athletes and the growth of the programs they represent.
Volunteers have been the heart and strength of American Swimming, and their special gifts of time, talent, and devotion to local swimming programs make United States Swimming what it is today.
DICK PARKER OFFICIALS AWARD
Oregon Swimming takes great pride in recognizing the efforts of swim officials both on and off the deck. In 1984, the Dick Parker Award was established to recognize swim officials for their vital contribution to Oregon Swimming. The award is presented annually to an honoree, selected by the Oregon Officials' Committee, who has made a significant contribution to the sport of officiating, with an emphasis on fostering the sport to provide training and mentoring to fellow officials and investing in the future of the sport of officiating. The Dick Parker Award is presented at the annual Oregon Swimming Awards Ceremony held each November, and is given in honor of the first officials' chair of Oregon Swimming, Dick Parker, who is remembered for creating the foundation by which the current officials' training program has morphed into today.
JON ARLIN ADAPTIVE SWIMMING AWARD
Jon began swimming when he was 8. A year later, he was hit by a car while riding his bike. The accident left him in a coma for four months. He returned to the water for therapy, which evolved into competitive swimming. By the age of 15, while attending South Salem high school, he qualified for the national Cerebral Palsy Games in Fort Worth, TX. At the age of 20, while swimming for the Salem Aquatic Club, Jon qualified for the VIII Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea (1988). In 1991 Arlin qualified for the Paralympic Games which would be held in Barcelona the following year. During the Trials he won seven gold medals, a silver and a bronze.
SENIOR COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
GARY LEACH AGE GROUP COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Gary started his coaching career in 1972 with the Forest Grove Swim Club. The following year he became the head age group coach for Tualatin Hills. He remained in that position for 27 years from 1973-1999 and was responsible for producing many National level swimmers during that time. He taught them how to not only swim, but how to train. In 2000 he became the head age group coach for MAC where he would retire from coaching 17 years later. Gary is respected for his love of swimming, as well as a tough work ethic. He was able to make the sport fun and rewarding. This, along with his profound sense of responsibility for every athlete that he worked with, produced not only high-level athletes, but outstanding adults. A decorated competitive swimmer himself, Leach was named to the All-America Team during each of his four years at Central Washington University, and qualified for the 1972 Olympic trials.
OREGON SWIMMING OUTSTANDING FEMALE SWIMMER
OREGON SWIMMING OUTSTANDING MALE SWIMMER
COLLEGIATE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
MEDIA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SUPPORT TO OREGON COMPETITIVE SWIMMING
