IRVING, Texas, June 9. SMU'S Flavia Rigamonti has been awarded Conference USA's prestigious 2005-06 Scholar Athlete of the Year Award for women's swimming, Commissioner Britton Banowsky announced. The C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year award is presented to the top student-athlete in each conference-sponsored sport. The award is based on academic achievement (GPA), athletic achievement and service.
Rigamonti, a native of Breganzona, Switzerland, carried a 3.92 GPA as an advertising major and was a five-time NCAA Champion and multi-time All-American. She recently earned SMU's Presidential Award of Excellence Scholar-Athlete Award – the highest honor bestowed on a student-athlete – and was the 2006 Conference USA Swimmer of the Year.
Rigamonti broke two meet and pool records en route to capturing the 500 and 1,650-yard freestyle crowns at the C-USA Championships. The senior, who was also named Co-Swimmer of the C-USA Meet, notched over 10 first-place finishes and over 15 top-three finishes this season. Rigamonti garnered Swimmer of the Week honors a league-record four times this season.