Flushing, N.Y. - The City University of New York Athletic Conference along with the Hospital for Special Surgery announced Vladislav Romanov as the Scholar Athlete of the Month for December. The Dolphins' swimmer not only had a record breaking performances in December but also made multiple NCAA Division III National Championship cut times.
The two time CUNYAC Swimmer of the Week made his first NCAA B cut time in the 200 yard medley relay in the ECAC Division III Open Championships. Ramonov along with teammates Timur Rakihimov, Yury Zimarev and Danila Novikov finished in first place with a time of 1:32.77. He also set a new school and ECAC record with his time in the 100 yard backstroke (51.02) another NCAA A cut time and first place win at the event. Ramonov also set his personal best time of 1:35.85 in the 200 IM placing him third and another NCAA B cut. In his heat in the 400 Medley Relay, Romanov's individual time of 49.58 set a new ECAC record. The Dolphins' finished that event in first place with a time of 3:23.73, another NCAA B cut. Other event's Ramonov swam in were the 200 yard backstroke which he touched the wall first at 1:49.97 and the 200 freestyle relay clocking in at 1:27.73, a third place finish.
In the Dolphins’ second meet in December against conference opponent Brooklyn College, Romanov had first place victories in all his events. The 200 yard medley relay was completed in a time of 1:53.36. He also posted a time of 10:33.66 in the 1000 yard freestyle and a time of 55.95 in the 100 yard backstroke.
Out of the pool, the senior also excels as he maintains a 3.67 GPA in his business management major. He is striving to become an an entrepreneur one day by creating and running his own business. Romanov plans to intern for Apple Inc. this summer and spends some of his downtime volunteering as tutoring for his peers in his department.
“I want to start off getting experience in the business field,” says the Russian born swimmer, “Hopefully I’ll start with Apple and continue in with marketing research and management in different organizations.” Romanov later wants to take his experience further, “Once I get more knowledgeable I’d like to open my own business.”
The CUNYAC MVP of Meet in 2008-09 and CUNYAC Rookie of the Year can't seem to stay away from the pool however, as he also lifeguards and teaches swim lessons at the college. Romanov also has his sights set for the 2016 Olympics swimming team and thoughts of training for it.
“It would take lots and lots of time to combine work and practice so if I decide to do it I would most likely move to Florida or California to focus on it.”
“I feel honored to get this award for the second time it shows that people acknowledge all the time I put into both my academics and swimming,” stated the humble Romanov. “I’ve had such a great experience both academically and athletically. It’s been challenging but interesting and exciting all at the same time. I’m positive the skills that I have obtained over the years in both swimming and classes are going to help me in the future.”
Honorable Mentions:
Catherine Chan, Brooklyn
Flushing, NY/Bayside
Catherine Chan boasts a 3.914 GPA, majoring in Biology and having minors in both Anthropology and Archaeology. The senior is also enrolled in both the Macaulay Honors and BA/MD program, which she is also the president of the club. Throughout December, Chan registered three first place finishes in her events. In the conference matchup against York College, she finished first in the 1000 yard freestyle registering a time of 15:13.97. She was also part of the 200 yard medley relay team that finished first with a time of 2:22.85 against the College of Staten Island. She also swam in the 50-yard freestyle (30.89) which placed third and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:28.51) which placed second in the meet. Her other events that month included the matchup against SUNY Maritime which she competed in the 200 yard medley relay (2:16.26), 200 yard IM (3:03.69) and 100 yard breaststroke (1:32.79). Chan is also entering SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in the fall of 2012.
Abel Dupres, Lehman
Bronx, NY/DeWitt Clinton
Freshman Abel Dupres had two first place finishes in the month of December while maintaining his 3.2 GPA. In the ECAC Season Warm-Up Championship Dupres placed eighth in both 200-yard backstroke (2:02.52) and the 100-yard backstroke (55.97). He also placed 15th in the 100-yard butterfly (55.00) and 200 yard IM (2:05.77). He followed these performances with top place finishes in his next two meets. Against Old Westbury Dupres touched the wall first in the 200-yard freestyle finishing with a time of 1:54.68. He registered his other first place win in the 100 yard backstroke event against USMMA with a time of 57.64. He also placed second in the 200-yard IM registering a time of 2:06.35.
Zenia George, Kingsborough Community College
Zenia George was able to pull through the fall semester with a perfect 4.0 gpa. But overall, she has produced a gpa of 3.651. While studying, George managed to occupy her time by working. Last semester, she volunteered her time working in Junior Achievement for Special education children and also volunteered in Service Learning. She is now on the Sexual Harassment Committee and she works in College Advancement which is on campus. On the track, she was the first cross-country All-American for Kingsborough Community College, she currently holds 4 school records.
Kristen Markoe, Hunter
Staten Island, NY/McKee
Despite being sidelined for a pair of games in December, Markoe still turned in impressive numbers, competing in just three contests. The Staten Island native was third on the team in points, with 41, averaging 13.7 per game. Furthermore, she finished with the second-most rebounds for the month, tallying 32. Markoe finished the month second on the squad with 12 steals and third among Hawks with six assists. Markoe finished with a double-double against Lehman and was a rebound shy of her second double-double against Vassar College, as she led the Hawks with 21 points and nine boards all the while prepping for examinations. The sophomore majors in psychology and sports a 3.5 GPA.
Donika Rexhepi, CCNY
White Plains, NY/White Plains
Donika Rexhepi is an Advertising and Public Relations major, with a minor in Journalism with a 3.6 GPA. For the last three years she has been part of the Kaye Scholarship Program which provides funds for a program to attract and support promising City College students who are considering a major in the Humanities and Arts. In addition, Rexhepi also handles Public Relations at two New York City Restaurants, including a steakhouse and a seafood joint. She also serves as the President of the MCA workshop group that leads an HPV Awareness campaign. The sole purpose of that campaign is to increase awareness and educate students to make smart decisions when it comes to their personal interactions with others. In December Rexhepi played six games in totaling 102 points, 74 rebounds, 23 assists, and 13 steals. She shot 38-for-98 (.388) on the floor, 8-for-38 from beyond the arc and 18-for-28 from the free throw line.
Gabriel Yanez, Baruch
Elmont, NY/ Hunter
Gabriel Yanez was a member of the 200 yard medley relay team that finished in fifth place at the ECAC Season Warm Up Open Championship this month, while also qualifying for the ECAC Open Championships in February. The English major with a 3.63 GPA also qualified for the ECAC Open Championships in the 100 and 200 yard butterfly events. Also under his belt in December, the junior swimmer was apart of the 400 yard freestyle relay team that defeated Adelphi and Queens College. Yanez also part of Baruch’s men’s cross country team was named 2010-11 CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete and is part of Macualay CUNY Honors College.
Khalid Yousef, Hostos Community College
Queens, NY/ Robert F. Kennedy
In the two semesters Khalid Yousef has been at Hostos, the freshman sports a 3.75 GPA, majoring in Liberal Arts. He was a nominee for the Hostos Athletics Leadership Organization (HALO) as well. In the six games the guard has played in he has totaled 22 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. On the floor he shot 7-for-18, he knocked down two of his four three pointers and shot 4-for-6 on the free throw line.
