Former Lambert swimmer and current Tulane student Ellie Sills was named the 2014 Conference USA Freshman Swimmer of the Year last week after a memorable campaign with the Green Wave. Sills, who holds several Longhorn records, broke the Tulane record for the 200 butterfly on Nov. 23—and then broke it again on March 1. She is just the second Green Wave to be tabbed the C-USA Freshman of the Year. "This award could not go to a more deserving student-athlete," first-year Tulane head coach Katie Robinson said. "Ellie is a focused and hard-working individual who has shown multiple moments of maturity in this sport that is rarely seen among collegiate swimmers, much less freshmen. She trains exceptionally well day in and day out, and has earned her way to breaking our school record in the 200 fly not once, but twice this year." Sills racked up 14 top-three individual finishes this season, including victories in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 200 freestyle against Arkansas-Little Rock back on Oct. 12. Additionally, she took home first place in the 200 fly against LSU on Oct. 25 and versus North Texas on Jan. 18. Sill also played an integral role in several of Tulane’s relay teams, including the 200 medley, 400 free and 800 free — aiding the quartets in five combined top-three finishes. "Ellie is well respected amongst our team and has been an inspiration for those around her," Robinson added. "From anyone’s perspective she has had a very successful year, yet I still see the hunger in her eyes for faster swimming ahead. "There is no doubt in my mind that she’ll continue to turn heads throughout her next three years at Tulane. We are very proud of all she has accomplished and grateful towards the conference for their acknowledgement." Next year, Sills and Tulane will look to build on a solid season in which the Green Wave finished sixth overall in C-USA.