LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in the pool and in the classroom. This year, eight Wildcats have been recognized for their hard work in this 2025-26 school year.

Four men and four women individuals are nominated on behalf of each school, in which they must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, have a 3.50 GPA, and compete in five competitions or finish top eight at a conference meet that season.

The eight swim and dive Wildcats that have received the academic honor this year are Adomas Gatulis, Avery Giese, Carson Hick, Katy Jost, Justin Peresse, Levi Sandidge, Olivia Stewart, and Lauren West.

For the women, Giese is a Kinesiology and Exercise Science major, and Olivia Stewart studies Public Health. Jost majors in Psychology with a minor in coaching, while West is studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Psychology.

Gatulis is studying Finance and Management at the College of Business alongside Peresse, who majors in Economics and Management with a minor in International Business. Hick is a Political Science major focusing on Law and Justice.

Sandidge, who is a senior Computer Science major with a minor in Mathematics and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence, received All-American swimming status for his third place 1650 free finish this past month. He will be on the CSC Academic All-American ballot as well, an honor he got a year ago as CSC Academic All-America Second Team.

Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced April 28 (women) and April 29 (men).

For the latest on UK Swim & Dive, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKSwimDive, and on Facebook at Kentucky Swimming and Diving.