Taking on strong competition is nothing new to Hunter's Allyshia West. A two-time Pitcher of the Year in softball, the Owen Sound, Ont. native joined the Hawks' swimming and diving team for the first time in 2007-08, and made a splash in the pool. Also a strong student-athlete with over a 3.8 grade-point average in anthropology, it's no wonder why West was selected as the Hospital for Special Surgery Scholar-Athlete of the Month for February, 2008.
West was instrumental in the Hawks' run to a sixth CUNYAC Women's Swimming and Diving title in the last seven years, as she won all three of her individual events on the weekend (Jan. 31-Feb. 2). She won the 200-yard freestyle by over four seconds, the 200-yard backstroke by 11-plus ticks on the clock, and the 500-yard freestyle. On the year West, who shattered the program's 100-yard backstroke record in her first collegiate meet, broke five school records. She was named CUNYAC Rookie of the Year following the season, and placed sixth in the 100 Back and 200 Back events at the Metropolitan Conference Championships.
“Although she is a fierce competitor, Allyshia is also a very modest and humble person and is an excellent example of sportsmanship as she would congratulate her competitors whether it was a close race or not, and was always supportive of her own teammates, never boasting of her own accomplishments,” stated swimming & diving head coach Scott Bintner.