Courtesy: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
2020 MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FEDERATION MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING MAJOR AWARDS
2020 MPSF Swimmer of the Year
OLLI KOKKO • SENIOR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii senior Olli Kokko (Lahti, Finland) qualified for the NCAA Championships in two events, including the 100 and 200 breast. He finished the season ranked No. 9 in the NCAA in the 100 breast, clocking in at 51.71, a time he achieved at a Last Chance meet at Georgia (Feb. 29). Kokko claimed first-place in the 100 breast (52.34) and was a contributing member to the first-place 200 and 400 medley relay teams at the MPSF Championships. He set MPSF records in the 100 breast and 400 medley relay (3:08.59), and school records in the 100 breast, 400 medley relay, 200 free relay. He also took first in the 100 breast in the dual meet with Wisconsin (Jan. 9) and in a tri-meet with Arizona and Denver (Oct. 25-26). Kokko represents Hawaii’s fourth MPSF Swimmer of the Year award (Kokko, 2020, Metin Aydin, 2017-18, Victor Goigoechea, 2014).
2020 MPSF Freshman of the Year
DOMINIC FALCON • FRESHMAN • UCSB
UC Santa Barbara freshman Dominic Falcon (Huntington Beach, CA) was the MPSF Champion in the 400 Individual Medley and finished in the top-three in his other two individual events. Falcon was the only freshman to win a swimming event on the men’s side at the MPSF Championships. In addition to his 400 IM conference title (3:47.66), he placed second in the 200 fly (1:46.65) and third in the 500 free (4:21.39). Each of those top-three MPSF swims resulted in NCAA ‘B’ cuts. He also swam the second leg of the 800 free relay (1:36.89 split) at the conference meet. Falcon is UCSB’s second MPSF Freshman of the Year recipient (Billy Mullis-2015).
2020 MPSF Diver of the Year
MICKEY STRAUSS • FRESHMAN • BYU
Brigham Young University freshman Mickey Strauss (Provo, UT) won all three diving board titles at the MPSF Championships, becoming just the second diver in MPSF history to sweep the men’s titles (Amund Gismervik, Hawaii-2015). Strauss was one of just two freshmen on the men’s side to win an MPSF individual title this year. He recorded a 382.25 one-meter, 416.90 three-meter, and 381.30 platform score, all career-bests, and winning the one-meter and platform by over 30 points. He represented the Cougars at the NCAA Zones on each board. Strauss snaps Hawaii’s six-straight MPSF Men’s Diver of the Year awards, dating back to 2014. He is the second MPSF Diver of the Year from BYU (Nic Suder-2013).
2020 MPSF Swim Coach of the Year
ELLIOT PTASNIK • FIRST YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik guided the Warriors to a repeat of the MPSF team title, and by over 150 points. The Hawaii men set a pair of conference championship records in the 100 breast (Olli Kokko) and 400 medley relay. Hawaii won eight events (out of 21) on the men’s side at the MPSF Championships, while placing second in eight events and third in six events. Kokko was named MPSF Swimmer of the Year, qualified for NCAA’s in two events, and finished in the nation’s top-10 in the breast. Ptasnik represents Hawaii’s third MPSF Coach of the Year honor on the men’s side (Dan Schemmel, 2019; Victor Wales, 2014). Ptasnik and Schemmel are the only two swim coaches to earn both an MPSF Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year award (both achieving it in the same year).
2020 MPSF Diving Coach of the Year
TYCE ROUTSON • FIFTH YEAR • BYU
Brigham Young University Diving Coach Tyce Routson guided the Cougars to a successful 2019-20 season. Freshman Mickey Strauss became just the second diver in MPSF history to sweep all three boards at the championship meet, and was one of just two freshmen on the men’s side to win an MPSF individual title this year. BYU also had a top-three placement and all-conference first team honor on the one (Kimble Mahler) and three-meter board (Nathan Gonzales). Strauss, Mahler, Gonzales, Morgan Cooper, and Ryan Evans each went on to compete at this year’s NCAA Zone Championships. This is the second MPSF Men’s Diving Coach of the Year award for Routson, also earning it in his first season of 2016, and the third all-time MPSF Diving Coach award for BYU (Keith Russell, 2015).
2020 MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FEDERATION WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING MAJOR AWARDS
2020 MPSF Swimmer of the Year
PHOEBE HINES • SENIOR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii senior Phoebe Hines (Parrearra, Queensland, Australia) repeats as MPSF Swimmer of the Year, and extends the Rainbow Wahine streak to six-straight years in earning the honor. Hines qualified for the NCAA Championships in multiple events, including the 1650 free, 500 free, and 200 free. She finished the season ranked No. 12 in the nation in the 1650 free (15:56.61), and ranked No. 24 in the 500 free (4:39.07). Hines won two individual events in helping UH defend its MPSF team Championship, taking the gold in the 500 free and 1650 free, before teaming up for the 400 free relay victory to close the conference meet. Hines is the sixth all-time MPSF Swimmer of the Year for Hawaii, all in the last six years (Hines, 2019-20; Franzi Weidner, 2016-18; Jasmine Alkhaldi, 2015).
2020 MPSF Freshman of the Year
KATIE MCBRATNEY • FRESHMAN • BYU
Brigham Young University freshman Katie McBratney (Queen Creek, AZ) won both the 200 and 400 Individual Medley titles at the 2020 MPSF Championships, while also taking second-place in the 200 breast. She was the only swimmer to break two minutes in the 200 IM (1:59.70). She swam the winning 400 IM in 4:15.61 and the silver medal 200 breast in 2:12.29. McBratney was one of just two freshmen to win an MPSF title this year. She was a two-time MPSF/TYR Athlete of the Week, with her first award coming after her three wins in the 200 IM, 400 IM, and 200 breast in her collegiate debut (Oct. 4-5). McBratney is the third MPSF Freshman of the Year from BYU, including the second-straight (Gwen Gustafson, 2019; Alexandria Sorensen, 2013).
2020 MPSF Diver of the Year
DAPHNE WILS • SOPHOMORE • HAWAII
University of Hawaii sophomore Daphne Wils (Herman Gorterlaan, Netherlands), keeps the Rainbow Wahine perfect at eight-for-eight in all-time MPSF Women’s Diver of the Year recognition (Wils, 2020; Ivy Houser, 2019; Madison Sthamann, 2017-18; Aimee Harrison, 2013-16). Wils arrived in Hawaii in January and immediately went to the UCLA Diving Invitational with over 50 women in each springboard event, and won the one-meter event and finished second in the three-meter. At the MPSF Championships, Wils won both springboard events while setting new MPSF and UH records of 363.00 on one-meter and 388.40 on three-meter 388.40. She proceeded to win both springboard events at the NCAA Zone Championships to earn NCAA qualifying spots, with her one-meter score being the best across the nation.
2020 MPSF Swim Coach of the Year
ELLIOT PTASNIK • FIRST YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik guided the Rainbow Wahine to an MPSF team title in just his first season at the helm of the program. He was also an assistant coach for UH in helping the squad to team titles the previous three years. The Hawaii women produced five conference records for the second-straight year. Kionna Clayton took down the MPSF 200 breast record, while the 200 medley relay again broke the conference standard. Phoebe Hines repeated as MPSF Swimmer of the Year, qualifying for NCAA’s in three events and ranking in the top-25 nationally in two. The Rainbow Wahine won a total of 14 events (out of 21) at the 2020 MPSF Championships en route to their fourth-straight title. They added four second-place and three third-place outcomes.
2020 MPSF Diving Coach of the Year
MIKE BROWN • 19TH YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Mike Brown led the Rainbow Wahine to yet another phenomenal season. MPSF Diver of the Year Daphne Wils won both the one and three-meter MPSF titles, while Victoria Moretti repeated as the platform champion, helping Hawaii defend its overall MPSF team championship. After a late addition to the UH roster, Wils to win both the one and three-meter events at the NCAA Zone Championships to earn NCAA qualifying spots, with her one-meter score being the best across the nation. In all, the UH women collected five of the nine possible first team all-conference diving awards, as well as three others on the second team. Brown and Co-Coach Anita Rossing have earned all eight of the MPSF’s Women’s Diving Coach of the Year honors. During that stretch since 2013, Rainbow Wahine divers have collected an incredible 50 out of a possible 72 (69.44 percent) first team All-MPSF selections, and all eight diver of the year awards.
2020 MPSF Diving Coach of the Year
ANITA ROSSING • 19TH YEAR • HAWAII
University of Hawaii Diving Co-Coach Anita Rossing led the Rainbow Wahine to yet another phenomenal season. MPSF Diver of the Year Daphne Wils won both the one and three-meter MPSF titles, while Victoria Moretti repeated as the platform champion, helping Hawaii defend its overall MPSF team championship. After a late addition to the UH roster, Wils won both the one and three-meter events at the NCAA Zone Championships to earn NCAA qualifying spots, with her one-meter score being the best across the nation. In all, the UH women collected five of the nine possible first team all-conference diving awards, as well as three others on the second team. Rossing and Co-Coach Mike Brown have earned all eight of the MPSF’s Women’s Diving Coach of the Year honors. During that stretch since 2013, Rainbow Wahine divers have collected an incredible 50 out of a possible 72 (69.44 percent) first team All-MPSF selections, and all eight diver of the year awards.
