CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte's John Long (Jacksonville, Fla., Bishop Kenny) and Savannah College of Art and Design's Alex Graudins have been named Bluegrass Mountain Conference Co-Swimmers of the Year for the men alongside Fairmont State University's Kathryn Saurborn being named Swimmer of the Year on the women's. All swimmers had much success in the pool at conference and on the national platform this season.
 
Head Coach Jeff Dugdale commented, “I am very proud of John. He has been very humble throughout the process and has continued to stay focused. Last weekend John qualified for the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., in the 100 meter freestyle. He has embraced our mantra of building leaders for life as he finishes his master's degree at Queens and gets married May 24, 2012.”
 
Long finished the 2011-12 season with nine school records and three conference records alongside becoming a seven time All-American, the most decorated Royals swimmer to date. He is also the first to earn conference swimmer of the year honors in program history.
 
In October he helped lead the Royals to their first victory over a Division I opponent when he broke two individual school records, one coming in the 100 free (45.91) and the other coming in the 200 relay when he led off with a time of 20.79. The Royals continued to compete well throughout the month picking up two more wins with one coming over Gardner Webb, another Division I opponent. At the end of the month, Long was named conference swimmer of the week.
 
At the start of November the Royals competed in a quad meet hosted by Wingate University with Long setting two new program records in the 100 free (45.74) and the 50 free (20.76); both times met NCAA B-cut standards. He later posted A-cut times of 20.25 in the 50-free and 44.03 in the 100 free at the Wingate Fall Frenzy. At the end of the fall season Long was first in the nation in the 50, 100 and 200 yard freestyle races across all three divisions.
 
Long earned conference swimmer of the week honors again in January just before the Royals headed to compete in the conference meet in February. On day two of the meet Long raced in at 20 seconds flat in the 50 free. He was also a part of Queens' 200 free and 400 medley relays that picked up first place wins. The Royals also took first in the 200 medley relay on day three with Long, while he swam to a first place finish in the 100 free at 43.88 on the final day of competition.
 
Long and the Royals went on to compete at the NCAA Swimming and Diving National Championships finishing 11^th as a team. The senior swimmer earned All-American status in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. He earned Honorable Mention All-American status in the 100 back, 400 medley relay and 400 free relay.
 
“The way this group has come together in two years is amazing and I am proud to be a part of this program,” stated Long. “I have gained a ton of experience throughout the season dealing with both adversity and success and those experiences have helped me grow and overcome my weaknesses. I am very thankful for this award and I attribute that success to our coaching staff for giving me support and the opportunity to swim for Queens.”