Swift 1W4 Added to Hall of Fame; Pisarchuk 2W4 named Athlete of the Year
Former basketball and tennis standout Justin Swift 1W4 was named to the Williamson Athletic Hall of Fame, while junior wrestler Talon Pisarchuk was named the Walter J. McCarty 3W7 Athlete of the Year at Williamson's 56th annual Sports Awards ceremony on April 27.
Swift had an outstanding career on both the basketball and tennis courts during his three years at Williamson. He became a 3-time United States Collegiate Athletic Association All-American, becoming just the second Williamson student athlete to earn such an honor at the time (Davar Watson 1W0 was the only one to do such prior to Swift). In addition to that honor, he left as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,749 points. He averaged and astounding 21.9 points per game, 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.7 steals per game throughout his career. Twice he led the nation in steals and finished in the Top 10 in the nation in scoring all three years.
In addition to his work on the basketball court, Swift was also one of the top tennis players in school history, playing First Singles and First Doubles for two years, while being named the team captain both years.
"I'm extremely thankful to my coaches, Coach Michaels, Coach Brown and Coach Tate. I'm also thankful to the administration and Mr. Plummer (Director of Athletics) for their support as well," Swift shared with the crowd.
To the junior and freshmen student-athletes who will return to the field of play next year, Swift had this message.
"Listen to your coaches. They love you and are here for you. They truly care about you."
In addition to Swift's honor, junior wrester Talon Pisarchuk was named the Walter J. McCarty 3W7 Athlete of the Year, the highest athletic honor Williamson bestows upon a current student-athlete.
An outstanding wrestler all season long, Pisarchuk, wrestling in the 165-pound weight class, stunned the collegiate wrestling world, as he advanced to the 2023 National Collegiate Wrestling Association national final before losing in the national championship match. The last Williamson wrestler to wrestler in the national final was Phi Carbonetta 0W2 all the way back in 2001.
For the season, Pisarchuk finished with 24-6 overall record, won the 2023 NCWA Mid East Conference 165-pound championship and was a 2023 NCWA All-American. An outstanding student as well, he was named to the 2023 NCWA All-Academic team and also was named a 2023 USCAA Wrestling Academic All-American.
A self-proclaimed man of few words, Pisarchuk was short but direct in his acceptance speech, stating his mission for next year in a mic-dropping moment.
"I don't talk a lot but I will say this. I finished second so job not finished."
Williamson's Director of Athletics Dale Plummer had this to say about Pisarchuk and the award.
"There were several great candidates-guys who played multiple sports, guys who were All-Americans or their conference Player of the Year. In the end, every once in a great while a Williamson student-athlete does something in their sport so incredible that it catches the attention of the nation and brings the entire Williamson community together. Talon and his performance did just that. He could not be more deserving of this honor."
In addition to those two, the college's eight varsity sports combined to honor 149 students who participated in a varsity sport and earned a varsity letter during the 2022-23 school year.