April 29, 2002

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Clayton Moss’ spectacular junior season was recognized one more time as the Doerun, Ga., native was named the Southeastern Conference Male Diver of the Year as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Kentucky diving coach Mike Lyden was also honored for his hard work with Moss and the rest of the UK male divers as he was named the SEC Men’s Diving Coach of the Year.

Moss became the first UK swimmer or diver to become an All-American in three different events in the same year as he captured a silver medal on the one-meter, a fifth-place finish on the three-meter and a sixth-place finish on the platform at the 2002 NCAA Championships. He also successfully defended his one-meter title at the SEC Championships, becoming the first Wildcat to ever win back-to-back titles at the conference championships.

For Lyden, the honor marks the fifth time that he has been named the SEC Diving Coach of the Year, but only the second time he was named for his work with a men’s team and first since joining the UK staff. Since coming to Lexington, he has been named the SEC Women’s Diving Coach of the Year twice (1994, 1995). He was also honored while coaching at LSU, bringing home the honors on the men’s side in 1992 and on the women’s side in 1993.

Prior to Moss’ recognition this season, no male swimmer or diver at UK had received such high recognition. Swim Cat alumni Tina Johnson (1995, 1996) and Christy Soulakis (1997) each had been recognized by the conference coaches on the women’s side.

Moss and Lyden were named the 2002 SEC Championships’ Male Diver and Men’s Diving Coach of the Meet, respectively, at the conference meet in February.

-UK-