Big Ten Announces Women’s Swimming and Diving Postseason Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference announced its 2026 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving postseason awards on Thursday, as selected by the conference’s head coaches.  

Michigan’s Bella Sims was named Swimmer of the Year, while Wolverine head coach Matt Bowe was selected as Swimming Coach of the Year. Minnesota’s Elna Widerstrom was chosen as Diver of the Year and Wenbo Chen was named Diving Coach of the Year. Indiana’s Liberty Clark was a unanimous selection as Freshman of the Year.  

Sims captured the 400-yard IM national title at this year’s NCAA Championships, Michigan’s first individual NCAA title since 2021. It was the first 400-yard IM gold by a Wolverine since 1993. Sims was named a First-Team All-American in seven different events and was also named Swimmer of the Championships after leading the Wolverines to their 18^th Big Ten Championship. 

Bowe completed his third season with the Wolverines in 2025-26 and earns his first Coach of the Year honor after guiding Michigan to a sixth-place NCAA finish and a Big Ten Championship.  

Widerstrom placed third in on three-meter at NCAA Championships, finished first on one-meter at Big Ten Championships and was selected as a First-Team All-American on both events.  

Chen was selected as Diving Coach of the Year for the 11^th time in his career. Chen was also named the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association Women’s Diving Coach of the Year.  

Clark was the unanimous selection for Freshman of the Year after being named an First-Team All-American in seven events. Throughout the NCAA Championships, Clark lowered her Indiana program records in the 50-yard freestyle (21.25) and 100-yard freestyle (46.11) and set the program record in the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.70).