FSC’s Jeb Halfacre Tabbed Male Athlete of the Year
Florida Southern swimming champion Jeb Halfacre has been named the 2010-11 Sunshine State Conference Male Athlete of the Year.
A sophomore, Halfacre won the NCAA Division II Championship in the 200-yard backstroke for the second consecutive season, posting a time of 1:45.02 to finish nearly three seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. He was also the national runner-up in the 100-yard backstroke for the second year in a row. Halfacre’s performance in those races earned All-American honors for both events.
In addition to his individual accomplishments, Halfacre also swam the leadoff leg for the Moccasins’ 400-yard medley relay team that won the DII national title with a mark of 3:14.91. He swam the same leg on FSC’s 200-yard medley relay team that placed second at the Division II meet. Halfacre and his teammates collected All-American honors in three different relay events and received honorable mention All-American in two others.
In the first year in which swimming was an SSC-sponsored sport, Halfacre earned Men’s Swimmer of the Year honors. He won two individual events at the inaugural SSC Championship, taking gold in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke. He further helped the Mocs take the top prize in the 200 and 400-yard medley relays.
A native of Gainesville, Fla., Halfacre wrapped up his stellar season with new school records in four different individual events and five relay races. All of those program marks came while swimming at the NCAA Championship.
Voting for the SSC Athlete of the Year awards is conducted among the league’s sports information directors.
Halfacre is the 12th FSC student-athlete to be named Male Athlete of the Year and the second in a row. Golfer Matt Stauch claimed the honor a year ago. Halfacre is the first SSC swimmer to earn Athlete of the Year distinction, as athletes who competed in that sport were not eligible for league honors prior to its adoption as a conference sport.