School Record 18 UK Swimmers, Divers Earn All-SEC Team Honors

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s swimming and diving program picked up the most All-Southeastern Conference Team honors in program history for the second straight season, as 18 swimmers and divers were recognized for their performances at the 2020 SEC Championships. In addition, Kentucky received the second-most All-SEC Team honors in the league.
 
For the All-SEC Teams, the first team consists of the top finisher in each event at the SEC Championships, and the second team consists of the second- and third-place finishers in each event. The All-Freshman Teams consist of any redshirt or true freshman who finished either in the top eight or is the highest scoring freshman of each event at the SEC Championships, excluding relay events.
 
“It’s no surprise to see so many Kentucky names on the awards list,” said head coach Lars Jorgensen. “These student-athletes have worked tremendously hard all season, and they proved that at the conference championships this year. I’m so proud of their dedication to the sport, and I hope this is a nice reward for them while we can’t be together at this time.”
 
Sophomore divers Kyndal Knight and Danny Zhang were named to the All-SEC First Team, each for the first time. Both Knight and Zhang were crowned champions at the SEC Championships, just the second time in program history Kentucky has won two diving championships by different athletes in the same season.
 
Knight, the 2019 co-SEC Female Freshman Diver of the Year, took first place on the 1-meter springboard with 353.75 points, the second-best score in program history and her personal best. Zhang won the platform event with 422.10 points, his career best. Before that, Zhang earned a silver medal on the 3-meter springboard, also with a score of 422.10 points.
 
Knight became the first UK female diver to win a conference championship since 2007, while Zhang became the first UK male diver to win a conference championship since 2003.
 

Eleven Wildcats earned All-SEC Second Team honors for winning a silver or bronze medal in an individual and/or relay event at the SEC Championships. Those student-athletes include Glen Brown, Jason Head, Chase Lane, John Mitchell, Peter Wetzlar, Bailey Bonnett, Ali Galyer, Riley Gaines, Izzy Gati, Beth McNeese and Asia Seidt.
 
Five Kentucky newcomers are listed on the SEC All-Freshman team, the most in the league, for finishing either in the top eight or being the highest scoring freshman of each event at the SEC Championships. Those rookies include Jakob Clark, Caitlin Brooks, Gillian Davey, Beth McNeese and Kaitlynn Wheeler.
 

The list of the Kentucky swimmers and divers receiving conference awards are as follows:
 
All-SEC First Team
Men
Danny Zhang, Kentucky
 
Women
Kyndal Knight, Kentucky
 
All-SEC Second Team
Men
Glen Brown, Kentucky
Jason Head, Kentucky
Chase Lane, Kentucky
John Mitchell, Kentucky
Peter Wetzlar, Kentucky
 
Women
Bailey Bonnett, Kentucky
Ali Galyer, Kentucky
Riley Gaines, Kentucky
Izzy Gati, Kentucky
Beth McNeese, Kentucky
Asia Seidt, Kentucky
 
All-Freshman Team
Men
Jakob Clark, Kentucky
 
Women
Caitlin Brooks, Kentucky
Gillian Davey, Kentucky
Beth McNeese, Kentucky
Kaitlynn Wheeler, Kentucky
 
For the latest on the Kentucky swimming and diving program, follow @UKSwimDive on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.