Check out all of our 2015 Swammy Awards here.
2015 NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year Will Licon
It’s not often we see an American record holder upset in their primary event at the NCAA Championships. It’s even less common that we see two different American records holders take the fall. But in 2015, Will Licon managed to take down a pair of them all by himself.
PC: Tim Binning
The Texas Longhorn sophomore was perhaps the flashiest swimmer of the championships, beating two-time defending champ Chase Kalisz in the 400 IM and then two-time defending champ Kevin Cordes in the 200 breast the very next day.
Though the dominating Texas team was especially powered by its butterflyers, Licon’s wins were huge emotional turning points of the meet, and his 57 individual points were the most of any swimmer in the NCAA.
Licon was also second behind American record-holder David Nolan in the 200 IM, and added an NCAA record as the breaststroker on Texas’s 400 medley relay.
Licon was solid as a freshman, but his sophomore season breakout was a key reason why Texas became so unbeatable in the NCAA in 2015 – and his continued development suggest he and his Longhorns will remain near the top for the forseeable future.
Honorable Mention
In no particular order:
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Ryan Murphy. (Photo credit: Tim Binning)
Joseph Schooling, Texas: The other double-even winner for Texas, Schooling was a star as a freshman, going undefeated in individual events in finals sessions. Schooling won the 100 and 200 fly (leading a 6-man charge of Longhorns in the 100 fly), and won the consolation final of the 200 IM.
- Ryan Murphy, Cal: Murphy continued his reign as the backstroker to beat at the college level, sweeping the 100 and 200 backs while breaking Ryan Lochte’s American record in the 200 and the NCAA record in the 100. The only major backstroke record Murphy has to challenge in the short course pool is the American record set by Nick Thoman in the 100 back.
- Clark Smith, Texas: Another breakout sophomore for Texas, Smith excelled at both ends of the 2015 calendar year. He won an upset 500 free title at NCAAs in March, then crushed the American record in the 1000 free at the Texas Invite earlier this month.
I have huge respect for how well rounded the top 5 male swimmers were last year. So many incredible swims! It’s really cool that this is even a debatable topic.
I think the NCAA had it right with Murphy. not only record breaking individual races, but his relay splits were incredible.
Lets see they both swam 3 events. Licon was 1st, 1st, and 2nd. Murphy was 1st, 1st, and 5th. They went head to head in the 2im and Licon crushed him by 2.5 seconds. The relay Licon was on beat Murphy’s relay. But your probably right “Coach” Tom
Murphy had two record breaking swims, one of which was on that relay, you know the one where Licon got out split, in case you forgot “Philip”
I am assuming 334 is your area code because we all know dam well its not your IQ, this means you are from south eastern Alabama which means you have not been to very many big swim meets during your existence. But at big meets (nationals, jr nationals) they hand out the high point awards for a reason. Licon was the high point winner because he produced the best finishes in the events they are allowed to swim. Incase you didn’t know, they score meets with points and Licon scored more than anybody else in the country. Murphy and Licon also went head to head in the IM which is a test of who is a better complete swimmer as… Read more »
No jack conger or Dressel in honorable mentions.
No David Nolan 🙁
thank you very much Bob! Merry Christmas and God bless.
2015 NCAA men’s championships
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6xMFqw4JKs
Isn’t it 57 individual points, not 37? Two firsts and a second.