SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Men's swimmer Nathan Bighetti has been named the Freshman/Newcomer of the Year for men's sports as part of the 2020 Drury All-Sports Awards.
 
Each year, Drury Athletics announces their end-of-year awards in a ceremony near the end of the academic year. With the campus closed due to concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event was canceled, but the athletics department moved forward to continue to honor student-athletes for outstanding achievements in competition, in the classroom and in the community for 2019-20.

Nathan Bighetti was an NCAA-II All-American in four events and an honorable mention All-American in another. He was honored in the 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, 800 Free Relay, and 400 Free Relay and was an honorable mention selection in the 100 Butterfly. Bighetti was the number one ranked swimmer in Division II in the 200 Back and set a program record in that event.

A native of Brazil, Bighetti was part of Drury's 400 Free Relay team that had clocked the nation's best time in 2019-20, and he ranked fourth nationally in the 100 Back. Bighetti won two GLVC championships taking the 100 Back, and he set a meet record in the 200 Back. He was also a national qualifier in the 100 Fly and won both the 100 Back and 200 Back against Missouri State on Jan. 20.

Other finalists for the men's Freshman/Newcomer of the Year included John Clout (men's soccer), Melek Davis (men's basketball), Sylvain Garin-Michaud (men's tennis), Mason Meeks (baseball).
Previously, Drury Athletics announced its 2020 Panther Pride Awards, Sydney Horton as the Women's Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, the finalists for the Women's Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, finalists for the Men's Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, finalists for the Women's Matthews Award.   
 
Future DU All-Sports Awards announcements will include: 

• Winner of the Women's Dr. Edsel Matthews Award
• Winner of the Men's Dr. Edsel Matthews Award

 
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