2026 Big West Men's Swimming & Diving Awards.pdf
With the conclusion of the 2025-26 Big West Swimming & Diving season, the conference is proud to announce this year's major award winners.
Karol Ostrowski of Hawai'i earns The Big West Men's Swimmer of the Year after a record-setting championship showing. Ostrowski captured conference titles in the 50 Free (19.13), 100 Free (42.58), and 200 Free (1:34.36), with his 100 and 200 Free efforts establishing meet records. Throughout the season, the senior posted NCAA B-qualifying standards, including an 18.89 in the 50 Free, cementing status as one of the nation's top sprinters.
GCU's Omar Elsayed has been named Men's Diver of the Year following standout performances on the boards at the Big West Championships. Elsayed placed second in the 3-Meter with a 389.90 and added GCU's first gold medal finish in The Big West on Platform (395.75).
Landon Egeland of UC San Diego is selected as the Men's Freshman Swimmer of the Year after an impressive first championship showing. Egeland took home the 500 Free in a meet-record 4:20.98, added a victory in the 400 IM (3:46.52), and captured the 1650 Free (15:02.14), accounting for a trio of individual gold medals.
Oliver Wignall of the Rainbow Warriors earns Men's Freshman Diver of the Year after earning podium finishes at the conference meet, highlighted by a third-place score in the 3-Meter final and additional scoring on 1-Meter to boost Hawai'i's team total.
On the coaching front, Steve Allnutt and Brandon Blaisdel have been named Men's Swimming Coach of the Year and Men's Diving Coach of the Year, respectively, after guiding the Rainbow Warriors to multiple meet records and individual event sweeps and multiple podium finishes that helped UH capture the team title after finishing in second place a season ago.
The top three finishers in each event at The Big West Swimming & Diving Championships are designated as All-Conference.
Gallery: (2-20-2026) 2026 MS&D Awards
| 2026 Big West Men's Swimming & Diving Awards |
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Men's Swimmer of the Year: Karol Ostrowski, Hawai'i
Men's Diver of the Year: Omar Elsayed, GCU
Men's Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Landon Egeland, UC San Diego
Men's Freshman Diver of the Year: Oliver Wignall, Hawai'i
Men's Swimming Coach of the Year: Steve Allnutt, Hawai'i
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Brandon Blaisdell, Hawai'i |