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Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio State Earn Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Awards
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the 2021 Big Ten Women’s Swimmer, Diver, Swimming Coach and Diving Coach of the Year awards, as voted on by the conference coaches. Michigan’s Maggie MacNeil earned Swimmer of the Year, Minnesota’s Sarah Bacon was awarded Diver of the Year and Wenbo Chen Diving Coach of the Year, and Ohio State’s Bill Dorenkott was honored as Swimming Coach of the Year.
MacNeil earned Swimmer of the Year plaudits after being named Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships at the 2021 Big Ten Women’s Swimming Championships, both back-to-back honors for the London, Ontario native. The junior was also named the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) 2021 Division I Swimmer of the Year. MacNeil earned gold in the 50-yard freestyle (21.44), 100-yard freestyle (47.36), 100-yard butterfly (49.68) and 400-yard freestyle relay (3:11.61).
MacNeil’s trip to the NCAA Championships in Greensboro, N.C., was highlighted by a first-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly where she broke the NCAA record with a time of 48.89 seconds (the first woman to break 49 seconds). The junior also earned first in the 100-yard freestyle (46.02), setting a Greensboro Aquatic Center pool record.
Bacon was voted Diver of the Year after winning both the 1-meter (357.20) and 3-meter (408.60) events at the NCAA Championships. The Indianapolis, Ind., native also earned the 2021 CSCAA Division I Diver of the Year. Bacon finished fourth at the Big Ten Diving Championships on the 3-meter board with 369.00 points. The senior tallied three 1-meter NCAA titles in her tenure (2018, 2019, 2021) with the Golden Gophers, along with this year’s 3-meter championship.
Dorenkott earned Big Ten Swimming Coach of the Year honors for the second season in a row after the Buckeyes won their second conference title in as many years. Dorenkott collects his second Coach of the Year award with Ohio State, after receiving the award with Penn State in 2005. Ohio State collected swimming gold medals in the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard individual medley, 500-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley, 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard freestyle relay at the 2021 Big Ten Swimming Championships. The Buckeyes finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, the highest finish in program history, with 215.5 points.
Chen earns his eighth Diving Coach of the Year title for women’s diving, seven with Minnesota and one with Purdue (2004, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021). Chen claims the award after helping Bacon secure gold medals on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards at the NCAA Championships. Under Chen’s guidance, the Golden Gophers also had multiple divers score points in the 3-meter event at the 2021 Big Ten Diving Championships. Chen also earned his fourth CSCAA Women's Diving Coach of the Year award (2011, 15, 17, 21).
Swimmer of the Year
Maggie MacNeil, Jr., Michigan
Diver of the Year
Sarah Bacon, Sr., Minnesota
Swimming Coach of the Year
Bill Dorenkott, Ohio State
Diving Coach of the Year
Wenbo Chen, Minnesota
MacNeil earned Swimmer of the Year plaudits after being named Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships at the 2021 Big Ten Women’s Swimming Championships, both back-to-back honors for the London, Ontario native. The junior was also named the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) 2021 Division I Swimmer of the Year. MacNeil earned gold in the 50-yard freestyle (21.44), 100-yard freestyle (47.36), 100-yard butterfly (49.68) and 400-yard freestyle relay (3:11.61).
MacNeil’s trip to the NCAA Championships in Greensboro, N.C., was highlighted by a first-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly where she broke the NCAA record with a time of 48.89 seconds (the first woman to break 49 seconds). The junior also earned first in the 100-yard freestyle (46.02), setting a Greensboro Aquatic Center pool record.
Bacon was voted Diver of the Year after winning both the 1-meter (357.20) and 3-meter (408.60) events at the NCAA Championships. The Indianapolis, Ind., native also earned the 2021 CSCAA Division I Diver of the Year. Bacon finished fourth at the Big Ten Diving Championships on the 3-meter board with 369.00 points. The senior tallied three 1-meter NCAA titles in her tenure (2018, 2019, 2021) with the Golden Gophers, along with this year’s 3-meter championship.
Dorenkott earned Big Ten Swimming Coach of the Year honors for the second season in a row after the Buckeyes won their second conference title in as many years. Dorenkott collects his second Coach of the Year award with Ohio State, after receiving the award with Penn State in 2005. Ohio State collected swimming gold medals in the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard individual medley, 500-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley, 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard freestyle relay at the 2021 Big Ten Swimming Championships. The Buckeyes finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, the highest finish in program history, with 215.5 points.
Chen earns his eighth Diving Coach of the Year title for women’s diving, seven with Minnesota and one with Purdue (2004, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021). Chen claims the award after helping Bacon secure gold medals on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards at the NCAA Championships. Under Chen’s guidance, the Golden Gophers also had multiple divers score points in the 3-meter event at the 2021 Big Ten Diving Championships. Chen also earned his fourth CSCAA Women's Diving Coach of the Year award (2011, 15, 17, 21).
Swimmer of the Year
Maggie MacNeil, Jr., Michigan
Diver of the Year
Sarah Bacon, Sr., Minnesota
Swimming Coach of the Year
Bill Dorenkott, Ohio State
Diving Coach of the Year
Wenbo Chen, Minnesota