Courtesy: SEC Sports
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (February 20, 2026) – The Southeastern Conference announced the 2026 Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athletes of the Year in conjunction with the 2026 SEC Swimming & Diving Championships.
Emily Jones of Alabama was selected as the 2026 SEC Women’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Jones, a senior from Newcastle, Australia, holds a 4.00 grade point average in Sport Management. She set four Alabama Aquatic Center records this season, setting a new standard in the 100 back, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and 200 free relay. Jones is second all-time in program history in the both the 100 back and 200 back as well as fourth all-time in the 100 fly. The seven-time All-American was a two-time honoree on the All-SEC Team and a member of the 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team. Jones, a 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American, was named to the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll last season and the 2022-23 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Rex Maurer of Texas was tabbed the 2026 SEC Men’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Maurer, a junior from Pasadena, Calif., currently possesses a 3.86 grade point average in business administration. During his time in Austin, he has set program records in the 500 free and the 800 free relay. He has also established record times at the Texas Swim Center in the 500 free and the 400 IM. This season, he also set the Texas A&M pool record for the 1000 free. At the 2025 SEC Championships, Maurer was the individual winner for the 500 free and the 400 IM, where he set the SEC Championship meet record for the event, and was the male high-point scorer for the meet. A member of the 2025 All-SEC First Team and the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll, he won the 2025 NCAA title in the 500 free and the 400 IM and was a part of the 800 free relay team that set the NCAA Championship record time in the event.
