Georgia’s Brittany MacLean, Ty Stewart and Jack Bauerle have been chosen for SEC year-end awards, according to an announcement Wednesday by the league office.
MacLean was chosen as the Female Swimmer of the Year, Stewart shared Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, and Bauerle was picked as the Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year for the 16th time.
MacLean, a senior from Toronto, won NCAA titles in the 200 freestyle and on the 800 freestyle relay and claimed conference crowns in the 200, 500 and 1,650 freestyle and on the 800 freestyle relay. She previously was recognized as the SEC Swimmer of the Meet and won the Commissioner’s Trophy for high-point honors. On Tuesday at the Canadian Trials, MacLean qualified for her second Olympics by winning the 400-meter freestyle.
Stewart, a senior from Hattiesburg, Miss., holds a 3.99 grade point average in English and Cognitive Science. At the SEC meet, Stewart scored in three events, highlighted by a ninth-place effort in the 200 individual medley. He shared Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors with Connor Oslin of Alabama.
Bauerle led the Lady Bulldogs to the program’s seventh national championship last month and he was tabbed as the NCAA Women’s Coach for the seventh time. His SEC Women’s Coach of the Year designation is the 16th of his career, including each of the past two seasons and for the 10th time in the 2000s. Bauerle also has been named the SEC Men’s Coach of the Year twice.
MacLean led the Lady Bulldogs’ First-Team All-SEC selections. Also tabbed were Emily Cameron, Hali Flickinger, Shauna Lee, Meaghan Raab, Olivia Smoliga and Kylie Stewart. Olivia Ball and Megan Kingsley were named Second-Team All-SEC.
The Bulldogs placed Matias Koski and Jay Litherland on the First Team; Gunnar Bentz, Pace Clark and Taylor Dale on the Second Team; and Aidan Burns on the All-Freshman Team.
“It’s so gratifying for a coach when student-athletes on your team receive conference honors,” Bauerle said. “My hat’s off to Brittany and Ty for their special recognition. Brittany was a tremendous leader by example for our women, while Ty stood tall as an essential swimmer who never compromised his academic goals. I am so proud of everyone for the hard work they put in throughout the year and the performances they gave us in the dual meets and at the SEC and NCAA championships. They deserve these accolades.
“I’m also honored to receive the Coach of the Year Award on behalf of our coaching staff and our student-athletes. Outstanding staffers and student-athletes make awards like this possible. I want to thank my fellow league coaches for their support. I think we have the best conference in the country. It’s competitive but friendly, and I really enjoy working with them.”