Press Release courtesy of MPSF
Women’s Awards:
2018 MPSF SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
FRANZISKA WEIDNER • SENIOR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii senior Franziska Weidner (Nurenberg, Germany) became the first back-to-back MPSF Women’s Swimmer of the Year last year, and has now made it three-straight. Weidner won the 200 IM (1:55.92), 200 Free (1:44.73), and 100 Free (48.05) at the MPSF Championships, all in record-setting times. Her 200 IM and 200 Free title swims were nearly five and three full seconds ahead of second-place respectively. Weidner was also a member of the MPSF Champion and record-setting 400 (3:18.33) and 800 Free Relays (7:07.30), as well as the 400 Medley Relay (3:36.88), while also swimming on the first-place 200 free relay. In the NCAA Championships, she placed seventh in the 100 breast (59.12) to earn All-American honors, 18th in the 200 IM, and 20th in the 200 breast. Weidner is the fourth all-time MPSF Swimmer of the Year from Hawaii, all in the last four years (Jasmine Alkhaldi-2015).
2018 MPSF FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
IVY HOUSER • FRESHMAN • HAWAII
University of Hawaii freshman diver Ivy Houser (Indianapolis, IN) won the one-meter (276.00) and three-meter (322.50) titles at the MPSF Championships, along with a second-place finish on platform. She contributed 57 points toward the second-straight conference championship for the Rainbow Wahine. She was the only freshman, swimmer or diver, to win multiple individual events at the MPSF Championships. Houser proceeded to place ninth on platform at the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships to nearly qualify for the NCAA’s. Houser is the second MPSF Freshman of the Year from Hawaii (Kira Webster-2015).
2018 MPSF DIVER OF THE YEAR
MADISON STHAMANN • SENIOR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii senior Madison Sthamann (Balgonie, Saskatchewan, Canada/LSU) makes it a perfect six-for-six for the Rainbow Wahine in earning MPSF Women’s Diver of the Year honors, defending her recognition from last year which added to Aimee Harrison’s four-year run from 2013-16. Sthamann broke her own MPSF Platform record (318.20) at the conference championships in winning by an incredible 79.85-point margin, while also recording a second-place finish on the three-meter and fifth-place on the one-meter. Sthamann also won the platform at the NCAA Zone E Championships to be the only MPSF diving qualifier for NCAA’s, where she placed sixth for All-American honors. Sthamann won four platform titles this year.
2018 MPSF SWIM COACH OF THE YEAR
DAN SCHEMMEL • SECOND YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Head Coach Dan Schemmel has guided the Rainbow Wahine to an MPSF Championship in each of his first two seasons at the helm of the program. Hawaii won this year’s title by a convincing 205-point margin, producing a remarkable nine conference records along the way. Franziska Weidner set new standards in three individual races and three relays (800 free relay, 200 IM, 200 free, 400 medley relay, 100 free, 400 free relay), while Phoebe Hines took down two individual records (500 free, 1650 free). Madison Sthamann’s platform dive also broke her own conference mark. The Rainbow Wahine had 20 different student-athletes earn a total of 56 All-MPSF honors en route to their title defense. The UH women took home 11 MPSF Gold Medals in the 800 free relay, 500 free, 200 IM, 100 free, 400 medley relay, 1650 free, 100 free, 400 free relay, one-meter dive, three-meter dive, and platform. Weidner and Sthamann proceeded to earn All-American recognition while competing at the NCAA Championships.
2018 MPSF DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
MIKE BROWN • 17TH YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Mike Brown led the Rainbow Wahine to yet another phenomenal season. MPSF Diver of the Year Madison Sthamann won her second-straight platform title in record-setting fashion, while freshman Ivy Houser took the one-meter and three-meter titles in helping Hawaii to the overall team championship. Sthamann proceeded to win the platform at the NCAA Zone E Championships, en route to being the only MPSF diver to qualify for the NCAA’s. There, she placed sixth on platform for All-American honors as well as 43rd on three-meter. In all, the UH women collected seven of the nine possible first team all-conference diving awards, as well as three second-team awards. Brown and Co-Coach Anita Rossing have earned all six MPSF Women’s Diving Coach of the Year Honors. During that stretch since 2013, Rainbow Wahine divers have collected an astounding 38 out of a possible 54 (70 percent) first team All-MPSF selections, and all six diver of the year awards.
2018 MPSF DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
ANITA ROSSING • 17TH YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Anita Rossing led the Rainbow Wahine to yet another phenomenal season. MPSF Diver of the Year Madison Sthamann won her second-straight platform title in record-setting fashion, while freshman Ivy Houser took the one-meter and three-meter titles in helping Hawaii to the overall team championship. Sthamann proceeded to win the platform at the NCAA Zone E Championships, en route to being the only MPSF diver to qualify for the NCAA’s. There, she placed sixth on platform for All-American honors as well as 43rd on three-meter. In all, the UH women collected seven of the nine possible first team all-conference diving awards, as well as three second-team awards. Rossing and Co-Coach Mike Brown have earned all six MPSF Women’s Diving Coach of the Year Honors. During that stretch since 2013, Rainbow Wahine divers have collected an astounding 38 out of a possible 54 (70 percent) first team All-MPSF selections, and all six diver of the year awards.
MEN’S AWARDS:
2018 MPSF SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
METIN AYDIN • JUNIOR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii junior Metin Aydin (Cologne, Germany/Grand Valley State) defends his MPSF Swimmer of the Year title from last year by winning the 200 IM, 100 back and 200 back at the MPSF Championships. He was also a part of the second-place 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay teams. Aydin qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships, where he placed 20th in the 200 IM, 19th in the 100 back, and 11th in the 200 back (1:39.59). His 200 back swim at NCAA’s earned him Honorable Mention All American honors. He broke the UH school records in the 100 back, 200 back, 200 IM, 200 Medley Relay, and 400 Medley Relay during the season. Hawaii owns three MPSF Swimmer of the Year awards, all in the last five years (Aydin, 2017; Victor Goicoechea, 2014).
2018 MPSF FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
BRAD PROLO • FRESHMAN • BYU
Brigham Young University freshman Brad Prolo (San Clemente, CA/San Clemente HS) swam a pair of NCAA ‘B’ cuts in taking fifth in the 100 breast (54.30) and second in the 200 breast (1:58.19) at the MPSF Championships. He added a seventh-place finish in the 200 IM, for a total of 43 individual points toward the Cougars’ third-place team finish. Prolo was the only freshman to reach the MPSF Finals in either the 100 breast and 200 breast. He also swam a leg on BYU’s 800 free relay and 400 free relay which picked up 30 and 28 team points, respectively. Prolo is BYU’s third MPSF Freshman of the Year (Eric Muir, 2017; Payton Sorenson, 2013).
2018 MPSF DIVER OF THE YEAR
JOHAN SANDELL • JUNIOR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii junior Johan Sandell (Huddinge, Sweden) repeated his platform title (365.70), placed second on three-meter (382.10) and fourth on one-meter (321.25) to earn 52 individual points at the MPSF Championships. He then went on to record a second-place outcome on one-meter, sixth on three-meter, and fifth on platform at the NCAA Zone E Championships to be the only MPSF diver to qualify in all three events for the 2018 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Sandell placed 24th on one-meter, 31st on three-meter and 32nd on platform while at the NCAA’s. Sandell is the fifth consecutive MPSF Diver of the Year from Hawaii, repeating his recognition from last year in addition to Amund Gismervik’s previous three awards.
2018 MPSF SWIM COACH OF THE YEAR
MATT MACEDO • SECOND YEAR • UCSB
UC Santa Barbara Head Coach Matt Macedo picks up MPSF Swim Coach of the Year honors in each of his first two years, leading the Gauchos to their lone two MPSF titles. There were only two MPSF men’s records taken down this year, both achieved by UCSB. NCAA Qualifier Logan Hotchkiss set the new conference standard in the 500 free as did Yoessef Tibazi in the 100 fly. The Gauchos matched their 2017 success with six men’s titles at this year’s championship en route to their title defense. UCSB also had seven second-place swims and two bronze medal results for a total of 15 first-team all-conference awards (and an additional 23 second-team). In the NCAA’s, Hotchkiss took home school records in the 1000 free and the 1650 free while teammate Billy Mullis posted school records in the 200 fly and 200 back. Four different Gauchos also earned conference athlete of the week honors this year.
2018 MPSF DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
MIKE BROWN • 17TH YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Mike Brown led the Warriors to yet another phenomenal season. Back-to back MPSF Diver of the Year Johan Sandell repeated his conference platform title, and was the lone MPSF diver to qualify on all three boards at the NCAA Championships. He placed 24th on one-meter, 31st on three-meter and 32nd on platform while at the NCAA’s. Sandell also placed in the top-six on all three boards at the Zone E Championships. In all, the Hawaii men collected five first-team and three second-team all-conference diving selections, as Sandell, Grant Newcombe and Lucas Cooperman were each recognized. This is the third MPSF Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honor for Brown and Co-Coach Anita Rossing (2018, 2017, 2014).
2018 MPSF DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
ANITA ROSSING • 17TH YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Anita Rossing led the Warriors to yet another phenomenal season. Back-to back MPSF Diver of the Year Johan Sandell repeated his conference platform title, and was the lone MPSF diver to qualify on all three boards at the NCAA Championships. He placed 24th on one-meter, 31st on three-meter and 32nd on platform while at the NCAA’s. Sandell also placed in the top-six on all three boards at the Zone E Championships. In all, the Hawaii men collected five first-team and three second-team all-conference diving selections, as Sandell, Grant Newcombe and Lucas Cooperman were each recognized. This is the third MPSF Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honor for Rossing and Co-Coach Mike Brown (2018, 2017, 2014).