NC State’s Coleman Stewart, UVA’s Paige Madden Named ACC Swimmers of the Year

Coleman Stewart of North Carolina State and Paige Madden of Virginia have been named the ACC Swimmers of the Year for the truncated 2019-2020 season. The awards mirrored those handed out for Most Valuable Swimmer at the ACC Championship meets.

Stewart, a senior, ended the season as the country’s top swimmer in the 100 backstroke thanks to his ACC Record of 44.04 done at the ACC Championship meet. That would have made him the top seed at the NCAA Division I Championship meet that was canceled. He won ACC titles in the 100 back and 200 back and was a member of the winning 200 medley and 400 free relay teams.

Madden, a junior, swept the 200, 500, and 1650 yard freestyle events individually and was also a member of Virginia’s winning 400 and 800 free relays. She finished the season ranked 2nd nationally in the 500 free (4:34.64) behind only Arizona State’s Emma Nordin.

Their coaches, Braden Holloway of NC State and Todd DeSorbo of Virginia, were named the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, respectively, while Notre Dame’s Jack Hoagland and Virginia’s Kate Douglass received Freshman of the Year honors.

In February at the ACC Championship meet, the NC State men won their 6th-straight title, topping the runners-up from UVA by 161 points. In the women’s meet, the Virginia women dominated, with a score of 1,492.5 that is the most points ever scored by an ACC Championship-winning team, men’s or women’s.

Full List of Award Winners:

• Men’s Swimmer of the Year: Coleman Stewart, NC State
• Women’s Swimmer of the Year: Paige Madden, Virginia
• Men’s Diver of the Year: James Brady, NC State
• Women’s Diver of the Year: Molly Carlson, Florida State
• Men’s Freshman of the Year: Jack Hoagland, Notre Dame
• Women’s Freshman of the Year: Kate Douglass, Virginia
• Men’s Swim Coach of the Year: Braden Holloway, NC State
• Women’s Swim Coach of the Year: Todd DeSorbo, Virginia
• Men’s Diving Coach of the Year: Randy Ableman, Miami
• Women’s Diving Coach of the Year: John Proctor, Florida State

Brief Bios, Courtesy the ACC:

Stewart was named the Most Valuable Swimmer at the 2020 ACC Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships after earning Co-Most Valuable Swimmer honors last year. The senior from York, Pennsylvania, won the 100 and 200 backstrokes for the second straight year, and was part of the first-place 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Courtesy: The ACC

Madden was voted the Most Valuable Swimmer at the 2020 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships. The junior from Mobile, Alabama, captured five gold medals in the event, placing first in the 200, 500 and 1650 freestyle events, and was also on the first-place squads for the 400 and 800 free relays.

Courtesy: The ACC

A senior from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Brady was named the Most Valuable Diver at this year’s ACC Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. The Wolfpack senior was a finalist in all three diving events, winning the 3-meter springboard competition.

Courtesy: The ACC

Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Carlson earned her third straight Most Valuable Diver nod at the 2020 ACC Championships. The Seminole senior won the 3-meter and platform competitions and placed second on the 1-meter springboard.

Courtesy: The ACC

Hoagland earned three All-ACC honors at the 2020 ACC Championships. The rookie from Albuquerque, New Mexico, placed second in the 1650 freestyle and 400 individual medley, and finished third in the 500 free.

Courtesy: The ACC

A native of Pelham, New York, Douglass medaled in seven events at the 2020 ACC Championships. The Cavalier rookie won the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley events, and as part of the first-place squads for the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and the 200 medley relay. Douglass’ times in the 200 IM (1:51.36) and 200 medley relay (1:34.27) were conference records. She was also part of the second-place 400 medley relay squad and placed third in the 200 breaststroke.

Courtesy: The ACC

Holloway led the Wolfpack to its sixth consecutive ACC title this past season. The Wolfpack men captured 13 total medals at the ACC Championships, including seven gold medals.

Courtesy: The ACC

DeSorbo and the Cavaliers won their second women’s ACC Championship in three years, and 16th overall, tying the league record. Virginia won 10 events at the ACC Championships and earned 25 medals overall.

Courtesy: The ACC

Ableman guided the Hurricanes to two golds, a silver and a bronze at the ACC Championships, placing at least one diver in the finals of each event. Miami became the first team ever to sweep the men’s platform event when David Dinsmore, Zach Cooper and Max Flory went 1-2-3. Flory also took third in the 3-meter competition.

Courtesy: The ACC

Proctor guided Florida State to a pair of golds and a pair of silvers at the ACC Championships. In addition to Carlson’s two diving wins and second-place finish on the 1-meter, the Seminoles’ Ayla Bonniwell placed second in the 3-meter competition.