2020 Swammy Awards: NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year, Erika Brown

To see all of our 2020 Swammy Awards, click here. 

2020 NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year: Erika Brown

In 2020, only one woman broke an American Record in the short course yards (SCY) pool: Erika Brown of the University of Tennessee. Though Brown missed the NCAA and U.S. Open Records when she reset the American Record in the 100-yard butterfly, she still accomplished something no other woman did this calendar year. Brown also inserted herself among the top-10 fastest performers all-time in three more races.

Despite Brown’s incredible swimming at SECs, other women were strongly considered for this award–in fact, Jared, Braden, and I had to talk it over to determine who, in our minds, out-performed the rest. In 2020, Brown became the 2nd-fastest performer all-time in both the 50 and 100 freestyles, the 3rd-fastest ever in the 100 butterfly, and the 10th-fastest ever in the 200 freestyle. Going into NCAAs, Brown held the top times in the nation in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyles and was ranked 2nd in the 100 fly. Though she did not swim the 200 free at SECs, Brown posted a 1:41.66 at the 2019 Tennessee Invite, a mark that survived all of conference season, though she did not enter it at NCAAs.

Brown was the only woman other than Abbey Weitzeil of Cal to break an American Record during the 2019-2020 season. She slipped under Kelsi Dahlia‘s mark in the 100 butterfly with a 49.38 at the 2020 SEC Championships, though she fell just short of MacNeil and Hansson’s time (49.26) which remains the NCAA and U.S. Open Record. Brown was on fire at SECs where she posted a 21.03 in the 50 freestyle, making her the 2nd-fastest all-time behind only Weitzeil. She also swam a 45.83 in the 100 freestyle, again elevating her to the 2nd position all-time and making her one of only two women ever, alongside record holder Simone Manuel, to go sub-46 in the race.

In the process, Brown won head-to-head victories over Anna Hopkin, another legendary ‘all-time’ type of female college sprinter in a golden generation of them in NCAA swimming.

Each of Brown’s swims at the SEC Championships registered as SEC Records and contributed to Tennessee’s first-ever conference title. Brown also helped the Volunteers to SEC titles in the 200 free relay, delivering a 20.57 split as the anchor, the 800 freestyle relay, and the 400 medley relay. Accordingly, Brown was named the 2020 SEC Female Swimmer of the Year.

Honorable Mentions

In no particular order.

  • Abbey Weitzeil, Cal: Weitzeil made history and at the 2019 Minnesota Invite when she became the first woman to break 21 seconds in the 50 yard freestyle, registering a 20.90. Weitzeil also posted a 46.52 in the 100 free, 1:42.25 in the 200 free, and 51.66 in the 100 back at Minnesota last December. Unfortunately, Weitzeil hardly had a chance to race at the 2020 Pac-12 Championships due to an injury to her elbow sustained during the 50 freestyle, which she won in a 21.03, equal to what Brown did at the 2020 SEC Championships and the 3rd-fastest performance all-time (tied with Brown).
  • Maggie MacNeil, Michigan: The 2019 World Champion in the 100 LCM butterfly made NCAA history by tying the NCAA and U.S. Open Records in the 100 yard butterfly at the 2019 Minnesota Invite, blasting a 49.26 to equal Louise Hansson as the fastest woman ever in SCY. At the 2020 Big Ten Championships, MacNeil posted a 21.30 in the 50 freestyle becoming the 8th-fastest in history in that race, as well as a 46.57 in the 100 freestyle to become the 7th-fastest all-time and deliver a new Big Ten record. MacNeil also cranked out the fastest 50 backstroke in history leading off Michigan’s 200 medley relay at Big Tens, registering a 23.05. MacNeil was named the 2020 Big Ten Championships swimmer of the meet, setting championship records in the 100 free and 100 fly.
  • Kate Douglass, Virginia: Douglass had a remarkable freshman season, even though it was cut short. At the 2020 ACC Championships, Douglass won the 200 IM (1:51.36) and 100 fly (50.83) and placed 3rd in the 200 breast (2:05.89). Her time in the 200 IM is the fastest all-time for a freshman. Douglass finished the season ranked 1st in the NCAA in the 200 IM, 3rd in the 200 breast, 4th in the 100 fly, 10th in the 100 free (47.77), and 11th in the 50 free (21.75). As 2020 comes to a close and the championship season draws nearer, Douglass leads the NCAA in the 50 free (21.42), 100 free (46.86), 100 fly (49.73), and 200 IM (1:50.92). Additionally, Douglass posted the fastest-ever 100 IM in September at Virginia’s opening intrasquad meet, scorching a 52.48.
  • Beata Nelson, Wisconsin: Nelson looked poised and dangerous at the 2020 Big Ten Championships where she won all three of her individual events–the 100 and 200 backstrokes and the 200 IM–as well as helped Wisconsin to victory in the 800 freestyle relay, a 2nd place finish in the 400 medley relay, and 3rd in the 400 freestyle relay. Nelson led the NCAA in the 100 backstroke (49.70) in 2020, and posted the 2nd-fastest times of the season in the 200 back (1:48.73) and 200 IM (1:51.66), as well as the 5th-fastest 100 fly (50.65), though we did not get to see if she could defend the three titles she won in 2019.

Previous Winners:

  • 2013 – Katinka Hosszu
  • 2014 – Brittany MacLean, Georgia
  • 2015 – Missy Franklin, Cal
  • 2016 – Lilly King, Indiana
  • 2017 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford
  • 2018 – Ella Eastin, Stanford
  • 2019 — Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
  • 2020 — Erika Brown, Tennessee

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ALEXANDER POP-OFF
3 years ago

I have to say, because she is an underwater-heavy yards talent, I didn’t expect such a quick successful transition to LCM. Kudos.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
3 years ago

There aren’t very many swimmers that are elite UW kickers (elite at shirt course) that also are elite swimmers too (can swim LCM too).

Phelps, Lochte, Crocker, Coughlin to some degree, Shields, Murphy, Dressel to name a few.

Bigbluefan
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
3 years ago

MacNeil

SwimFani
3 years ago

Brown for President!

SwimFani
Reply to  SwimFani
3 years ago

OK Brown for Vice-President – She is amazing, talented, intelligent, kindhearted and industrious…My vote for Woman of the Year!

PhillyMark
3 years ago

unrelated to her ncaa season, but also part of a WR

PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
3 years ago

Egads. This choice is brutal.

PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
Reply to  PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
3 years ago

Edit: To be clear, I mean that having to choose amongst these ladies is brutal. Not that choosing Brown instead of another swimmer is brutal.

Swammer
3 years ago

Kate Douglass was robbed.

Breezeway
Reply to  Swammer
3 years ago

if this is for 2020 only, she was definitely robbed

VFL
3 years ago

Way to go Erika! Well deserved!

Bahumbug
3 years ago

Her development has been fun to watch!

Honest Observer
3 years ago

Good article, it just goes to show what we missed by not having an NCAA championships this past year. Frustrating for us fans, let alone the swimmers themselves. All five of the women you mentioned would likely have broken records.

BTW, does the 2020 NCAA Swimmer of the Year refer to the calendar year or the 2019-2020 NCAA season? You’ve mentioned both Brown’s 200 free from the 2019 Tennessee invite and Douglass’ times from this past fall. (It should be one or the other.)

H2ooooo
Reply to  Honest Observer
3 years ago

I agree…pick one. Because clearly if all 19-20 season was considered it should go to Weitzel or MacNeil who swam NCAA records. But if it counts both (end of 2019 and the rest of the 2020 season) it should go to MacNeil who also had a great B1G champs

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Honest Observer
3 years ago

Weitzeil’s 50 American record is from 2019 also.

Breezeway
Reply to  Honest Observer
3 years ago

Yeah, this is weird. It seems the NCAA season is 2019-2020, not just the spring of 2020. Weitzel had the top 50 time going into NCAAs. If we’re counting just all of 2020, Douglass should be the winner with her performances. Brown/Weitzel swam a couple months in 2020 and graduated.

Bahumbug
Reply to  Breezeway
3 years ago

If you take their performances from the beginning of 2020 and compare it through all of 2020 they still outshine Douglass by quite a bit.

She would still be behind Brown/Weitzel in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle. The only event she would be faster than them in is the 200 IM. I don’t see the lack of understanding

Breezeway
Reply to  Bahumbug
3 years ago

OK

Swammer
Reply to  Bahumbug
3 years ago

Well she beats them in the breaststroke’s, flys, backs! SHE SHOUKD OF WON

Bahumbug
Reply to  Swammer
3 years ago

Last time I checked Brown at least was also faster in the 100 Fly 49.3 & 100 Back 50.8. Weitzel also had great stroke speed as well

About Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson originally hails from Clay Center, Kansas, where he began swimming at age six.  At age 14 he began swimming club year-round and later with his high school team, making state all four years.  He was fortunate enough to draw the attention of Kalamazoo College where he went on to …

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