PHILADELPHIA – Five Villanova Swimming and Diving student-athletes landed spots on the PhillySIDA Academic All-Area teams, as announced on Monday.
Michael Ackert and
Nolan Danus were named to the men's list while
Kelly Montesi,
Milly Routledge and
Nicole Welch earned positions on the women's team.
All-told, 20 student-athletes were named to the teams from eight different schools across all three NCAA Divisions. Villanova led the way with five representatives.
Ackert makes his way to the list for the first time in his career. A senior from Rye, N.Y., he is majoring in Marketing/Business Analytics. He became a two-time BIG EAST Most Outstanding Diver at the 2022 championships after winning the 1-meter title with a 565.40 total score. He earned All-BIG EAST status in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.
Much like Ackert, this is Danus' first time on the PhillySIDA list as well. The Finance major, Real Estate minor is in his sophomore year. The Morris Plains, N.J.-native was the BIG EAST Champion this year in the 200 Fly, setting a program record with a time of 1:47.46. He was an All-BIG EAST performer in the 400 IM and 200 Fly.
With her latest accolade, Montesi becomes a two-time Academic All-Area Team selection in her career. The Greenwich, Conn-native became a three-time BIG EAST Most Outstanding Swimmer after the 2022 championship. She was the conference champion in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Back, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay, earning All-BIG EAST status in each event. The nursing major reset the BIG EAST Championship record in the 200 Back with a 1:53.25 at this year's event, qualifying her for the NCAA Championships. There, she competed in three events, resetting the program record in the 200 IM with a 1:58.98 before notching not only a program-best but a BIG EAST-best in the 100 Back, touching in 52.45. She also swam a 1:54.87 in the 200 Back.
Routledge has been on the PhillySIDA team twice now, as well. The graduate student is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Counseling. Hailing from North Ascot, United Kingdom, she collected 2022 BIG EAST Championships in the 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 200 Free Relay (first leg), 400 Free Relay (Anchor), 800 Medley Relay (Anchor), 200 Medley Relay (Anchor), earning All-BIG EAST status in each.
Making her debut on the All-Area list, Welch is majoring in Environmental Science and Geography with a minor in Sustainability Studies. The Beverly, Mass.-native was a three-time BIG EAST champion at this year's event, winning titles in the 500 Free, 1650 Free and 800 Free Relay (third leg). She was All-BIG EAST in all three events and the 200 Free.
