CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Thursday morning, Queens University of Charlotte swimmers Alex Kunert and Danielle Melilli were selected as the 2021 Bluegrass Mountain Conference Men's and Women's Swimmers of the Year per a league vote conducted by coaches.
 
Both swimmers were integral parts in leading Queens to its sixth consecutive NCAA Division II Swimming Championships, while also claiming the program's seventh straight sweep of the Bluegrass Mountain Championships.
 
"It is always an honor for your peers to recognize your performances in the water and for them to vote Danielle and Alex to be the BMC swimmers of the year is special," said Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Planning and Leadership Development/ Director of Swimming Operations Jeff Dugdale. "Both Danielle and Alex were able to put together stellar performances all year long with their best performances yet at the NCAA Championships.They embrace our values and contribute both academically and athletically.  Thank you."
 
Kunert, a junior from Berlin, Germany, was chosen as the BMC Co-Male Swimmer of the Year award after also receiving the award following the 2020 conference meet. He shares this year's award with Raphael Lima of Carson-Newman University.
 
He helped guide the men's swimming team to its sixth straight NCAA Division II National Championship in March, winning two individual titles in both the 200-Yard Butterfly and 200-Yard Freestyle while also being a member of the 800-Yard Freestyle Relay championship team. Kunert tallied four individual all-america swims and was a member of three separate relay all-america performances in the meet.
 
At the BMC Championships in mid-February, Kunert took home three gold medals and two silvers. He was a conference champion in three separate relay races (400-ard Freestyle Relay, 800-Yard Freestyle Relay, 400-Yard Medley Relay) and was the runner up in both the 100- and 200-Yard Butterfly individual races.
 
Melilli, a sophomore from Douglasville, Ga., also led the women's swimming team to its sixth straight NCAA Division II National Championship.
 
The 2021 CSCAA Female Swimmer of the Meet at the NCAA Championships, Melilli won two individual titles in the 100-Yard Breaststroke and 50-Yard Freestyle and was a member of the 200-Yard Medley Relay and 400-Yard Medley Relay championship foursomes. She collected four total individual all-america swims and three relay all-america swims, never finishing lower than fourth in any race.
 
At the conference meet, Melilli captured six first-place swims, including being a member of ?? gold medal relay teams (400-Yard Freestyle Relay, 200-Yard Medley Relay, 400-Yard Medley Relay). Individually, Melilli was a conference champion in the 100-Yard Breaststroke, 50-Yard Freestyle, and 100-Yard Freestyle.
 
In addition to the individual swimming awards, Dugdale was chosen as both the men's and women's BMC Coach of the Year after the February meet, marking the fourth time he has swept the conference honor.