Awards have been announced for the 2020-21 Big Ten Conference men’s swimming & diving season, voted on by Big Ten coaches. After winning both breaststroke events at the 2021 Big Ten Championships and 2021 NCAA Championships, Minnesota junior Max McHugh won the Swimmer of the Year honor.
2021 BIG TEN CONFERENCE AWARDS – MEN
- Swimmer of the Year – Max McHugh (Minnesota)
- Swimming Coach of the Year – Mike Bottom (Michigan)
- Diver of the Year – Andrew Capobianco (Indiana)
- Diving Coach of the Year – Adam Soldati (Purdue)
McHugh’s win in the 100 breast was the first individual NCAA title for the Minnesota men in swimming since 1967. With his 200 breast victory, he became the first swimmer in Minnesota men’s history to win two NCAA titles. At Big Tens, he set a new meet record in prelims of the 100 breast (50.19).
Coach Mike Bottom led the Wolverines to their second-straight Big Ten crown in February, and Michigan went on to place 12th at the 2021 NCAA Championships with four All-Americans. This is Bottom’s seventh time winning Swimming Coach of the Year.
Indiana’s Andrew Capobianco, who was back this season after a redshirt year, won his second-ever (and second-straight) NCAA title last week in the 3-meter diving event. He won the 1-meter at Big Tens and placed fourth on the 3-meter there, and he won Co-Diver of the Championships recognition for his Big Tens performance.
Purdue diving coach Adam Soldati joins Bottom in winning his seventh total award, claiming Diving Coach of the Year honors. Boilermaker divers Brandon Loschiavo and Ben Bramley went 1-2 on the platform at NCAAs, while another, Greg Duncan, was fifth in the 3-meter. Loschiavo and Bramley also went 1-3, respectively, on the platform at Big Tens.
Voting results for McHugh’s and Capobianco’s awards were unanimous.
Ray Looze was snubbed!
no kidding! that 2nd place Team showing for men and 3rd place for women at B1G Championships… really should have gotten him the nod