Most Improved Swimmer

The Most Improved award recognizes the swimmer who has made the greatest overall progress across the season, as measured by the percentage of time dropped in their IMR (Individual Medley Ready) events. This metric helps highlight true development — not just fast times, but consistent improvement across multiple disciplines.

Because this calculation is based on percentage of time dropped, it often shines a light on swimmers who began the season with more room to grow. For our fastest athletes, earning this award becomes even more challenging — but not impossible — as gains are measured in fractions of a second.

When swimmers are closely matched in performance improvement, coaches look beyond the stopwatch to consider growth in other dimensions of USA Swimming's athlete development model. This includes technical skills, mental approach, consistency in training, and alignment with our team’s core values: Humility, Virtuousness, Accountability, Camaraderie, Selflessness, and Tenacity.

The Most Improved Swimmer doesn’t just get faster — they evolve. They push themselves to master new skills, rise to challenges, and become better teammates and competitors with each stroke.

Coaches Award

The Coaches Award is presented to the swimmer who best embodies the heart and spirit of our program — not just in the pool, but in every lane of life. This athlete may not always finish first, but their journey shows what it truly means to lead with humility, train with tenacity, and uplift others through camaraderie and selflessness.

This award honors a swimmer who has shown measurable improvement in performance, while also demonstrating growth in character, discipline, and resilience. Through setbacks and successes alike, they have been accountable to their goals, mentally tough in the face of challenges, and gracious in victory and defeat.

Above all, the Coaches Award winner is someone who leads by example — encouraging teammates, respecting competitors, and consistently choosing what is right over what is easy. In doing so, they reflect the core values of our team: Humility, Virtuousness, Accountability, Camaraderie, Selflessness, and Tenacity — and remind us all what it means to swim not just with strength, but with purpose.

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Swimmer of the Year

The Swimmer of the Year award honors the athlete who sets the standard — in the water, on the deck, and throughout our community.

This swimmer has not only demonstrated elite performance and competitive excellence — consistently racing at a high level, dropping times, and achieving personal and team goals — but has also lived out the values that define our team: Humility, Virtuousness, Accountability, Camaraderie, Selflessness, and Tenacity.

To be named Swimmer of the Year, an athlete must also qualify for the Coaches Award — proving that speed alone isn't enough. They are a leader who competes with integrity, trains with relentless purpose, and supports their teammates with encouragement and grace. They model mental toughness under pressure, embrace feedback, and hold themselves to a high standard both in and out of the pool.

 

This is the swimmer who represents the full vision of our program: fast, focused, and fueled by something greater than medals — a deep commitment to character, team, and the pursuit of personal excellence.