Swimming and Diving Announces 2021-22 Team Awards
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a successful 2021-22 season, the Kentucky men’s and women’s swimming and diving team held its annual end-of-the-year banquet on Saturday, April 9 to celebrate the program’s accomplishments in and out of the pool. Eleven team awards were presented to deserving Wildcat swimmers and divers.
“It was wonderful to be able to celebrate the season together this past weekend as a team,” said head coach Lars Jorgensen. “The coaching staff is so proud of the work our student-athletes do in the pool, on the boards, in the classroom and in the community each and every day. Our team continues to amaze us, and celebrating this group is nothing short of special.”
This award is presented to an athlete that has high character and demonstrates strong leadership skills.
Women: Bailey Bonnett, Izzy Gati, Sophie Sorenson, Kyndal Knight, and Riley Gaines
Men: Mason Wilby, Max Hawton, and Sam Duncan
Most Improved Swimmer
This award goes to the swimmer who has improved their performance the most from the previous year at UK in the eyes of the coaching staff. Such factors including dedication to practice, desire to excel, competitive spirit, as well as performance in competition, are taken into consideration.
Women: Kristyn Sabol
Men: Kyle Barker
Most Improved Diver
This award is given to the diver who has improved their performance the most in the previous year at UK in the eyes of the coaching staff. Such factors including dedication to practice, desire to excel, competitive spirit, as well as performance in competition, are taken into consideration.
Women: Morgan Southall
Men: Rodrigo Romero
Freshman Award
This award goes to the person who, as a freshman, has been an outstanding contributor to the team.
Women: Olivia Mendenhall
Men: Nick Caruso
UK Swimming & Diving Booster Club Award
This award is given to the competitor who has the combination of skills, competitive desire, team spirit, and the ability to come through for the team in competition. Outside the pool, this person is the type of student-athlete who will help others on the team with schoolwork, help with recruiting, and will be a credit to the team and university.
Women: Sofia Davis
Men: Sam Duncan
Team Spirit
This award is given to the individual who displays a continual and sincere interest in the team. This person has shown a high degree of enthusiasm for all their teammates in practice, meets, on trips, and with recruiting.
Women: Kelly Rodriguez
Men: Cooper Tyler
Bridgette Alexander 100% Award
This award is given to the competitor who constantly gives an all-out performance meet after meet, whether in a winning or losing cause. The competitor has demonstrated a willingness to give that extra amount of energy to the team.
Women: Bridget Engel
Men: Jackson Mussler
Bob Bradley Scholarship Award
This award goes to the upperclassman with the highest overall GPA. In order to be considered for this award, the athlete must have completed at least 24 hours of coursework and have a GPA above 3.0.
Women: Emily Baeth, Caitlin Brooks, Sofia Davis, Leah Luckett, Tori Orcutt, Lauren Poole, Anna Havens Rice, and Kelly Rodriguez
Men: Zane Rosely
Mike Lyden MVP Award
This award goes to the UK diver who during the season was able to contribute at all meets – especially at the SEC and NCAA Championships.
Women: Kyndal Knight
Men: Rodrigo Romero
Anne Berry Senior Award
This award goes to the senior female walk-on swimmer who represented UK for four years with the highest degree of selflessness and passion. This person always acted in the best interest of the team first and epitomized being a Wildcat.
Women: Parker Herren
Wildcat of the Year Award
This award goes to the UK team member, swimmer or diver, who during the season was able to consistently score points for the team, both in dual meets and especially at the SEC and NCAA Championships.
Women: Riley Gaines
Men: Mason Wilby
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.
