2020 Girls Swimmer of the Year: Liza Murtagh
***Click here to view a photo gallery of the 2019-20 Winter Coastal Preps Players of the Year***
***ICYMI: Co-Wrestler of the Year Bryan Aragao***
***ICYMI: Co-Wrestler of the Year Marcus Mondragon***
***ICYMI: Co-Wrestler of the Year Mark Samuel***
With the winter high school sports season finished, it’s time to reveal the All-Coastal Preps teams. Over the next week, you will get to know more about the players of the year while also seeing who made first and second team in wrestling, girls swimming, boys swimming and diving, girls basketball and boys basketball
For the second straight year, the Coastal Preps Girls Swimmer of the Year is junior Liza Murtagh from Cape Fear Academy.
Liza’s Accomplishments
Liza Murtagh grabbed the Coastal Preps Swimmer of the Year honors for the second straight year thanks to another terrific season that culminated with a pair of individual state titles at the NCISAA Division II State Championship.
She captured the 50 freestyle in a time of 24.36 and cruised to nearly an eight-second win in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.80. Murtagh was also on the 400 freestyle relay that placed second in 3:57.07 as well as the third-place 200 freestyle relay that touched the wall in 1:46.82.
Overall, Murtagh scored 106 of the Hurricanes’ 189.5 points to help them earn a fourth-place finish in the team standings.
More about Liza
Favorite Food: Pasta
Favorite Restaurant: Bento Box
Favorite Movie: The Polar Express
Favorite TV Show: The Office
Favorite athlete: Ian Crocker and Rob Gronkowski
Favorite Holiday: Cinco de Mayo
Favorite memory from the season: Personally, overcoming my big surgery this summer and getting back into it, but also breaking some team records at state with my teammates.
Favorite thing about your school or team: Everyone is really supportive of each other and proud to swim for the Hurricanes.
At what age did you start swimming?: 5. I started swimming so my mom would let me get ice cream from the snack bar!
Do you have any superstitions or pre-swim rituals? I always shake each arm three times and then jump up and down.
If you could play another sport professionally, what would it be?: Basketball
Who is your biggest role model?: My brother Henry. I watched him go through a big surgery junior year, but he didn’t let it stop him from achieving his goals.
What hobbies do you have outside of participating in sports?: Reading, baking, wakeboarding.
What app on your phone do you use the most?: Snapchat
What is your dream job?: Pediatric dentist
Are you a morning or night person?: Night
Do you prefer cold or hot weather?: Hot
Would you rather revisit a moment in the past or look ahead to a moment in the future?: Look ahead to a moment in the future.
Would you rather watch a movie at home or in the theater? At home
Who has the best doughnuts in town? Donut Inn
