After claiming both the men’s and women’s Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championship titles and the NCAA men’s crown in March, the Texas Longhorns lead the way for the 2016-17 postseason honors. UT collected at least a share of all 10 awards, while West Virginia earned co-honors for women’s Newcomer of the Year, as voted on by league coaches.
The All-Big 12 Teams were also announced. Student-athletes must place 1-3 at the Big 12 Championships to earn first team honors and 4-6 to earn second team recognition.
MEN’S SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
Will Licon, Texas, Sr., El Paso, Texas
Licon became the 4th swimmer in the history of college swimming and the first Big 12 swimmer to win four separate individual events throughout his career at the NCAA Championships.
In addition, Licon earned three individual events during the 2017 championships, the first Big 12 swimmer to do so, earning first in the 200 IM, 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke.
The Longhorn also set league and program records in the 200 and 400 medley relays this year.
The senior completes his college career with Big 12 records in the 100 and 200 breast, the 200 and 400 IM, in addition to the 200 and 400 medley relay.
WOMEN’S SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
Madisyn Cox, Texas, Sr., Lubbock, Texas
Competed in the NCAA Championships, earning All-America finishes in all three of her individual events (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast) and added All-America finishes in the 800 free relay (4th) and 400 medley relay (3rd).
Notched Honorable Mentions for her showings in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay.
Selected as Women’s Swimmer of the Meet at the Big 12 Championships after setting three Big 12 and program records.
MEN’S DIVER OF THE YEAR
Mark Anderson, Texas, Jr., Lake Forest, Calif.
Registered the top finish by a Big 12 diver at the NCAA Championships with his seventh-place finish on the one-meter.
Was the only Big 12 diver to qualify on all three boards at the national championships.
The Lake Forest native won the one-meter and took second on the three-meter boards at the Big 12 Championship in February.
WOMEN’S DIVER AND CO-NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Alison Gibson, Texas, Fr., Austin, Texas
Won a national title at the NCAA Championships for her performance on the 1-meter board, notching 332.60 points.
Placed second on the one-meter (327.00) and third on the three-meter (311.70) at the Big 12 Championships.
MEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Grayson Campbell, Texas, Fr., Vienna, Va.
Campbell was the only Big 12 freshman swimmer or diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships and earned All-America honors by placing eighth on the three-meter board.
At the Big 12 Championship, the diver won the three-meter final with a score of 451.85 and took sixth on the one-meter (300.15).
WOMEN’S CO-NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Morgan Carr, West Virginia, So., Charleston, W.Va.
Carr won bronze in the 200 butterfly after advancing to the A finals with an NCAA B cut and career-best time of 1:57.86 in the prelims, for the second-fastest time in school history at the Big 12 Championship.
In the women’s 500 freestyle, Carr advanced to the B finals where she placed 10th overall with a personal-best time of 4:52.41 at the Big 12 Championship.
MEN’S SWIMMING COACH OF THE YEAR
Eddie Reese, Texas, 39th Season
Recorded his 13th NCAA Championships victory and owns the title of winningest coach in the history of swimming and diving.
Won his third consecutive national title, and surpassed Michigan for No. 1 all-time with 13 NCAA men’s swimming and diving national titles.
Reese earned his 38th consecutive conference championship in February.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING COACH OF THE YEAR
Carol Capitani, Texas, 5th season
Led Texas to the top NCAA Championships finish by an active Big 12 member institution since 2009 as UT placed 5th, just one-half of a point behind 4th place Georgia.
Led her team to a No. 1 ranking in the CSCAA top 25 poll in January and notched wins against California, Georgia and Texas A&M, among others.
MEN’S & WOMEN’S DIVING COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Scoggin, Texas, 25th Season
In his 25th season as the Texas head diving coach, Matt Scoggin earned his sixth consecutive men’s diving coach of the year honor.
His divers produced two All-America finishes at the national championship (Campbell and Anderson).
Press release courtesy of the Big 12 conference.