PHOTO ID: GNAC Commissioner Joe Walsh, Jared Felker, SJC President Jim Dlugos

STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College Head Swimming & Diving Coach Jared Felker was presented with the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Commissioner's Award by GNAC Commissioner Joe Walsh at the Harold Alfond Center on Sunday, April 30th.

Bestowed upon worthy individuals in special circumstances, according to Walsh the honor has been given "fewer than 10 times" since he became the full time GNAC Commissioner in 2005.

Felker receives the honor after displaying a great deal of bravery and poise during an unfortunate incident that happened during the GNAC Swimming & Diving Championships on Saturday, February 4th at the Wellesley Sports Center.

Observing the end of a race from near the center of the pool, Felker noticed that a male swimmer from another team started to sink in front of the blocks. He quickly realized that the swimmer was not coming back to the surface and, as far as he could tell, nobody from behind the blocks – a very crowded space - saw him sink.

"I raced over to the lane intending to grab him," says Felker, recalling the incident, "but I noticed he was too deep, so I jumped in (fully clothed). By the time I reached him he was at the bottom of the deep end (12ft). I managed to thrust him to the surface, where our Athletic Trainer Aaron Rice helped him get out of the pool while Assistant Coach Annie Fougere located and retrieved an AED."

"By the time I got out of the water, the young man was being helped by Aaron and breathing on his own."

"Wins and losses are certainly important in college athletics, but human life is the most important and for Coach Felker to keep an eye on not only his own team, but other teams and save a life is certainly admirable," says Walsh. "Coach Felker is very deserving of the Commissioner's Award."

"Coach Felker's actions during the GNAC swimming & diving championship were nothing short of heroic and I am not surprised that he would be the one to spring into action," adds SJC Chief Athletics & Recreation Officer Will Rothermel. "His training kicked in as you hope it would in the heat of the moment. He compromised his own safety for the sake of another and we are so very proud of Jared and congratulate him on receiving this well-deserved recognition."

"I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award," says Coach Felker. "I am glad that I was at the right place at the right time and thankful that the young man made a full recovery. I'd like to thank Commissioner Walsh for the support and recognition."

Jared Felker has been the head coach of the Monks' swimming & diving program for seven years. He also serves as the aquatics manager for the Alfond Center Pool.

PHOTO ID: Calvin Felker, Jared Felker, Crosby Felker, and parents Donna and Irv Felker