Courtesy: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation announced its men’s and women’s swimming and diving postseason awards on Wednesday.
2019 MPSF SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
PHOEBE HINES · JUNIOR · HAWAII
University of Hawaii junior Phoebe Hines (Parrearra, Queensland, Australia) was the 2019 MPSF Champion in the 500 Freestyle (4:38.50), 200 Freestyle (1:45.68), 1650 Freestyle (15:45.68), and a member of the winning 800 Freestyle Relay (1:45.86 split), earning her four placements on the first team all-conference list. She established new MPSF records in the 500 and 1650 Freestyle. Hines went on to place 28th in the 500 Freestyle, 41st in the 200 Freestyle and fifth in the 1650 Freestyle (15:50.13) at the 2019 NCAA Championships, earning All-American Honors. Her overall season time in the 1650 was the second fastest in the country for the 2018-2019 season (15:41.35). She was a two-time MPSF/TYR Athlete of the Week this season (Jan. 9 & Nov. 21). Hines is the fifth all-time MPSF Swimmer of the Year from Hawaii, all in the last five years (Hines-2019; Franzi Weidner-2016-18; Jasmine Alkhaldi-2015).
2019 MPSF FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
GWEN GUSTAFSON · FRESHMAN · BYU
Brigham Young University freshman Gwen Gustafson (Brookfield, WI) won both the 50 free (22.72, NCAA ‘B’ cut) and 100 free (49.61) at the MPSF Championships, beating out her closest competitors in each event by nearly one-half second. She was the only female to break the 23-second barrier in the 50. Her 50 free prelim time (22.49) and 100 free finals time (49.61) at the MPSF Championship were both career-bests and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively all-time at BYU. Gustafson was the only freshman to win an MPSF title this year. She was named MPSF/TYR Athlete of the Week on Oct. 31. Gustafson is the second MPSF Freshman of the Year from BYU (Alexandria Sorensen-2013).
2019 MPSF DIVER OF THE YEAR
IVY HOUSER · SOPHOMORE · HAWAII
University of Hawaii sophomore Ivy Houser (Indianapolis, IN), a year after earning the MPSF’s Freshman of the Year honor, keeps the Rainbow Wahine perfect at seven-for-seven in all-time MPSF Women’s Diver of the Year recognition (Houser-2019, Madison Sthamann-2017-18; Aimee Harrison-2013-16). Houser placed fifth in the MPSF one-meter competition, sixth on Platform, and won the three-meter conference title (320.50). She went on to place ninth at the NCAA Zone E Championships on the platform, qualifying for the NCAA Championships and being the only diver to qualify from the MPSF. Houser finished her season in 44th-place at the NCAA Championships.
2019 MPSF SWIM COACH OF THE YEAR
DAN SCHEMMEL · THIRD YEAR · HAWAII
University of Hawaii Head Coach Dan Schemmel has guided the Rainbow Wahine to an MPSF team title in each of his first three seasons at the helm of the program, and earns a third-straight coach of the year honor. Hawaii won this year’s championship by a convincing 168-point margin, producing five conference records along the way. MPSF Swimmer of the Year Phoebe Hines set new MPSF standards in the 500 free and 1650 free, and in the latter event, proceeded to a fifth-place national finish at the NCAA Championships for All-American honors. Karolina Hajkova took down the conference record in the 100 back, as did Kionna Clayton in the 100 breast, each of whom were also members of the record-setting 200 medley relay team. The Rainbow Wahine won a total of 13 events at the 2019 MPSF Championships (out of 21) en route to their third-straight title. They added seven second-place swims and took third-place in five others.
2019 MPSF DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
MIKE BROWN · 18TH YEAR · HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Mike Brown led the Rainbow Wahine to yet another phenomenal season. MPSF Diver of the Year Ivy Houser won her second-straight three-meter conference title, while Jami Stone and Victoria Moretti were the one-meter and platform champions respectively, helping Hawaii to the overall MPSF team championship. Houser went on to place ninth at the NCAA Zone E Championships on the platform, qualifying for the NCAA Championships and being the only diver to qualify from the MPSF. In all, the UH women collected seven of the nine possible first team all-conference diving awards, as well as two second-team awards. Brown and Co-Coach Anita Rossing have earned all seven of the MPSF’s Women’s Diving Coach of the Year honors. During that stretch since 2013, Rainbow Wahine divers have collected an incredible 45 out of a possible 63 (71.4 percent) first team All-MPSF selections, and all seven diver of the year awards.
2019 MPSF DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
ANITA ROSSING · 18TH YEAR · HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Anita Rossing led the Rainbow Wahine to yet another phenomenal season. MPSF Diver of the Year Ivy Houser won her second-straight three-meter conference title, while Jami Stone and Victoria Moretti were the one-meter and platform champions respectively, helping Hawaii to the overall MPSF team championship. Houser went on to place ninth at the NCAA Zone E Championships on the platform, qualifying for the NCAA Championships and being the only diver to qualify from the MPSF. In all, the UH women collected seven of the nine possible first team all-conference diving awards, as well as two second-team awards. Rossing and Co-Coach Mike Brown have earned all seven of the MPSF’s Women’s Diving Coach of the Year honors. During that stretch since 2013, Rainbow Wahine divers have collected an incredible 45 out of a possible 63 (71.4 percent) first team All-MPSF selections, and all seven diver of the year awards.
2019 MPSF Men’s Major Awards
2019 MPSF SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
PAYTON SORENSON · SENIOR · BYU
Brigham Young University senior Payton Sorenson (Mesa, AZ) won both the 50 free (19.36) and 100 free (42.24) MPSF titles this year in conference record-setting times, while also setting the all-time school record in those events this season. He also swam on the second-place 200 free relay and third-place 400 free relay teams at the MPSF Championships. He competed in the NCAA Championships, where he finished his collegiate career by placing 20th in the 50 free (19.28) and 31st in the 100 free (42.88). He took second-place at the winter nationals this past season and is ranked 22nd in the world in the 50 free. Sorenson was a two-time MPSF/TYR Athlete of the Week this season (Nov. 7 & 21). Also named the 2013 MPSF Freshman of the Year, Sorenson represents BYU’s fourth MPSF Swimmer of the Year award (Sorenson-2019; Jake Taylor-2015 & 2016; Brandon Watson-2012).
2019 MPSF FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
MAX BURMAN · FRESHMAN · HAWAII
University of Hawaii freshman Max Burman (Huskvarna, Sweden) won both the one-meter (374.50) and three-meter (421.80) MPSF Championship, and placed fifth on the platform (321.95). Burman was the only freshman, swimmer or diver, to win two individual events at the 2019 MPSF Championships. He went on to compete at the NCAA Zone Qualifying meet, finishing in the top-10. Burman was the 2017 Swedish Senior National Champion on both the one and three-meter boards. Burman is Hawaii’s second MPSF Freshman of the Year (Victor Goicoechea-2014).
2019 MPSF DIVER OF THE YEAR
JOHAN SANDELL · SENIOR · HAWAII
University of Hawaii senior Johan Sandell (Huddinge, Sweden) won his third-straight MPSF Platform title with an all-time conference record score of 449.80, and placed second on the three-meter board (405.70) and second on the one-meter (355.05). He earned 54 individual points towards the Warriors’ first-ever MPSF Championship. His results made him the only three-event first-team All-MPSF diver honoree. Sandell qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships, and later the NCAA Championships, where he placed a personal-best 20th on the three-meter board as well as 41st on platform. He was named MPSF/TYR Athlete of the week on Jan. 23. Sandell is the sixth consecutive MPSF Diver of the Year from Hawaii, following the footsteps of Amund Gismervik’s three-in-a-row.
2019 MPSF SWIM COACH OF THE YEAR
DAN SCHEMMEL · THIRD YEAR · HAWAII
University of Hawaii Head Coach Dan Schemmel guided the Warriors to their first MPSF team title, and by over 100 points. Hawaii set four men’s conference championship records in the 400 IM, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, and platform. Hawaii won nine events (out of 21) at the MPSF Championships, while placing second in eight events and third in seven. Metin Aydin took part in five of the nine first-place swims. Kane Follows became the first Hawaii swimmer to be named an All-American since 2003 with his seventh-place finish in the 200 back at the NCAA Championships. Olli Kokko posted two Honorable Mention All-American swims at NCAA’s, taking 14th-place in the 100 breast and 15th-place in the 200 breast. This is Schemmel’s first MPSF Coach of the Year honor on the men’s side.
2019 MPSF DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
MIKE BROWN · 18TH YEAR · HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Mike Brown led the Warriors to yet another phenomenal season. Hawaii collected seven of the nine possible first-team All-MPSF diving honors this year, in addition to five other second-team selections. Max Burman was the MPSF one-meter and three-meter champion, while three-time MPSF Diver of the Year Johan Sandell won his third-straight conference platform title with a conference record score of 449.80. Sandell qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships, and later the NCAA Championships, where he placed a personal-best 20th on the three-meter board. This is the fourth MPSF Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honor for Brown and Co-Coach Anita Rossing, including the last three-straight (2019, 2018, 2017, 2014).
2019 MPSF DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
ANITA ROSSING · 18TH YEAR · HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Anita Rossing led the Warriors to yet another phenomenal season. Hawaii collected seven of the nine possible first-team All-MPSF diving honors this year, in addition to five other second-team selections. Max Burman was the MPSF one-meter and three-meter champion, while three-time MPSF Diver of the Year Johan Sandell won his third-straight conference platform title with a conference record score of 449.80. Sandell qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships, and later the NCAA Championships, where he placed a personal-best 20th on the three-meter board. This is the fourth MPSF Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honor for Rossing and Co-Coach Mike Brown, including the last three-straight (2019, 2018, 2017, 2014).