March 3, swimming coach Anne Marie Stricklin received a top honor in the Mid-American Conference with coach of the year recognition.

She was chosen by other head and assistant coaches from MAC swimming.

“It is a tremendous honor for myself and my coaching staff,” Stricklin said this week. “The swimmers and divers had a tremendous year.”

Stricklin received a small award and a traveling award, which must be returned for the new recipient at next year’s MAC championship.

She said the men’s team has improved greatly since last year, breaking eight school records at this year’s MAC championships. Some of this season’s highlights, she said, were two conference wins against Miami and Ball State. The team also tied for second place with Miami in regular season.

Swimmer Peter Cabo said Stricklin deserves the honor.

“She led us the whole way in the right direction,” he said. “She did everything right.”

The team went from last place in last year’s championships to fifth this year. Cabo said a change in workouts under Stricklin’s direction greatly helped.

As the season ends, Stricklin will lose her senior swimmers — five men and five women. The loss will be huge, she said.

“I had great leadership from the senior class,” she said.

Stricklin hopes to find some new recruits.

“It’s hard to replace a swimmer like Mick Coyne, but we’re trying,” she said.