April 9, 2008

IRVING, Texas--The Big 12 Conference announced the postseason swimming & diving awards for the 2007-08 season. Honorees were selected by a vote of the league's coaches.

Conference honors were awarded to the following individuals: Men- Swimmer of the Year: Ricky Berens (Texas); Diver of the Year: Matt Cooper (Texas); Newcomer of the Year: Jonathan Jackson (Texas); Swimming Coach of the Year: Eddie Reese (Texas); Diving Coach of the Year: Matt Scoggin (Texas). Women- Swimmer of the Year: Julia Wilkinson (Texas A&M); Diver of the Year: Kathryn Kelly (Texas); Newcomer of the Year: Natalie Sacco (Texas); Swimming Coach of the Year: Steve Bultman (Texas A&M); Diving Coach of the Year: Matt Scoggin (Texas).

Berens, last year's Newcomer of the Year, set a Big 12 Championship record in the 200-yard butterfly with his time of 1:43.64 en route to claiming three individual titles at the league meet. The sophomore went on to record two top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championship (fifth, 100-yard butterfly; seventh, 200-yard butterfly). Cooper, the Big 12 Outstanding Diver of the Meet, captured the three-meter and platform events at the league meet and placed sixth on the platform at the NCAA meet. Jackson (Outstanding Newcomer of the Meet at the Big 12 Championships) claimed victories in both the 100-yard butterfly and 50-yard freestyle while being part of three winning Longhorn relay teams.

Eight-time Big 12 Coach of the Championship Meet, Reese is also an eight-time NCAA Coach of the Year and three-time United States Men's Olympic Team head coach. Scoggin, a former U.S. Olympic diver and 2000 USA Olympic assistant diving coach, is receiving his fourth Men's Diving Coach of the Year award.

Wilkinson, the 2008 Big 12 Swimmer of the Meet, placed second in the 100-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships after becoming the first Big 12 swimmer to set three conference records at the league meet since 2001. The five-time individual Big 12 Champion has also qualified for six Olympic races. Kelly, a three-time All-American, earned two top-5 finishes at the NCAA meet, placing third on the three-meter (353.15) and fourth on the one-meter (308.65). Sacco, Co-Newcomer of the Big 12 Meet, placed 25th in the 1,650 freestyle at the NCAA Championship and was third in that event at the Big 12 meet.

Bultman led the Aggie women to their second consecutive Big 12 Championship crown and their first top-5 finish at the NCAA Championship as they walked away with fourth-place. Scoggin led two Longhorn divers to three top 5 finishes at the NCAA meet this season en route to his third straight Women's Diving Coach of the Year accolade.. This is Bultman's second consecutive honor.

Men
Swimmer of the Year: Ricky Berens, Texas
Diver of the Year: Matt Cooper, Texas
Newcomer of the Year: Jonathan Jackson, Texas
Swimming Coach of the Year: Eddie Reese, Texas
Diving Coach of the Year: Matt Scoggin, Texas

Women
Swimmer of the Year: Julia Wilkinson, Texas A&M
Diver of the Year: Kathryn Kelly, Texas
Newcomer of the Year: Natalie Sacco, Texas
Swimming Coach of the Year: Steve Bultman, Texas A&M
Diving Coach of the Year: Matt Scoggin, Texas