Courtesy: Army Athletics
WEST POINT, NY – Army West Point swimming & diving’s Aurelie Migault received the prestigious ‘AAA Award’ from the Army West Point Athletic Association this past week.
The AAA trophy is awarded annually to the male and female cadet-athletes who display the “most valuable service to intercollegiate athletics during a career as a cadet.” This year marks the 120th anniversary of the AAA Award, which was first presented to football’s Horatio Hackett in 1904.
She became the third female swimmer to receive the award in its 100-plus year history, joining Ann Wycoff in 1989 and Heidi Borden in 2001.
“Winning the AAA Award was a deeply humbling and rewarding experience. It is an incredible honor to graduate from West Point. The award, which recognizes my years of hard work and progress makes it even more surreal. I was not aware of what winning the award entailed when I found out three days before graduation, which made walking up to receive my diploma from President Joe Biden as the first female in my class with the honors graduates feel like a dream. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to West Point athletics. While it is bittersweet to see my time in the program come to an end, I wouldn’t be here without the support of Army Swim and Dive, my coaches, teammates, and my family. Their endless belief in me helped me persevere after barely making the team my freshman year and not initially improving. However, with their encouragement, I was able to progress over the next three years and break barriers I never thought possible under such a supportive program. GO ARMY!” – Aurelie Migault
Migault has been at the forefront of the swimming program’s resurgence over the past four years, which has seen 23 of the 28 swimming events see a new program-best over that span under head coach Brandt Nigro.
A native of Coppell, Texas, Migault graduates with seven program records altogether, having the Academy’s top time in the 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay and 800 free relay.
She is a three-time All-Patriot League honoree, earning first team all-league recognition the past two seasons. The most dominant female swimmer in the conference over the past three years, Migault claimed gold in the 100 breast at both the 2023 and 2024 Patriot League Championships, while placing second in 2023 and first in 2024 in the 200 breast. She also posted top-five finishes in both events, including a silver medal in the 100 breast, at her first conference meet in 2022.
In 2024, she claimed gold as part of Army’s 400 free and 800 free relay quartets while medaling and placing third in the 200 IM. Also commanding the service academy matchups, her marks were unchallenged across the past two seasons at the Army-Navy Star Meet, winning both breaststroke events at each meet, while adding a 200 IM win this past season.
“It has been a privilege to coach Aurelie over the past four years. She’s led our team to new heights and has set us up well for the future. Most don’t know this, but Aurelie was came here as a walk-on and had to work for everything she has earned. Her development during her time here was nothing short of amazing. This prestigious award is a testament to her dedication, hard work, resilience, and leadership! She has certainly left her mark on our program and will be greatly missed next year and beyond!” – head coach Brandt Nigro.
Migault has now commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant and will head to Fort Cavazoz in Texas to begin her career in the Army. Graduating with a degree in defense and strategic studies, she has branched Adjutant General with a Armor Detail.
She is now set to compete in the US Olympic Time Trials in Indianapolis from June 15-23, becoming the first female swimmer in program history to qualify for the Olympic Trials, with her 1:09.49 LCM mark in the 100 breast. Migault will be joined by Owen Harlow, Kalvin Hahn, Kohen Rankin and Sam Wesley as five Black Knights in total posted OT cuts this past season.
In addition to Migault receiving the AAA Award, the program also saw Head Coach Brandt Nigro named a finalist for the annual Coach K Award for Excellence in Teaching Character Through Sport. The award recognizes West Point athletes and coaches for their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership. Its recipients exemplify the Army Values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage both on-and-off the “fields of friendly strife.” It marked back-to-back seasons in which Nigro received the recognition.
Congrats, Aurelie! Thank you for being such a fantastic representative of AWSD and West Point. Good luck at OT – leave it all in the pool. Go ARMY! Beat navy.