The Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced its men’s and women’s swimming & diving awards on Wednesday, honoring eight exceptional University of Kentucky Wildcats for their impressive performances in the 2022-23 season. The athletes receiving recognition include Levi Sandidge, Mason Wilby, Lauren Poole, Kyndal Knight, Caitlin Brooks, Lydia Hanlon, Denise Phelan, and Grace Frericks.
Levi Sandidge, a standout freshman, secured both the SEC First-Team and the All-Freshman Team honors. Sandidge’s remarkable season was highlighted by winning the SEC Championship in the 1650 freestyle. This achievement made him the first Kentucky freshman to receive first-team honors since Asia Seidt in 2017 and the first male to do so. Hailing from Richardson, Texas, Sandidge was named a First-Team All American in the mile after finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships. His gold medal at the SEC Championships, where he broke the UK record by over 17 seconds, was the first for a Kentucky men’s swimmer since 2006.
Mason Wilby, a fifth-year swimmer, earned All-SEC Second Team recognition for the second consecutive season. Wilby won bronze at the SEC Championships in the 200 butterfly, tallying five first-place finishes in dual meets and qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the third time in his collegiate career. As a Gainesville, Florida native, Wilby leaves the University of Kentucky holding the program records in the 200 backstroke, 200 butterfly, and 200 IM.
Lauren Poole received her third All-SEC nod and her second consecutive selection to the second team. During this year’s SEC Championships, Poole won two medals for the first time in her collegiate career, placing third in the 200 IM and second in the 400 IM. Poole was the only Wildcat to win multiple medals at the meet, scoring 64 points for the team. At the 2023 NCAA Championships, she collected First-Team All-America honors in the 400 IM for the third consecutive season.
Fifth-year diver Kyndal Knight was once again named to the All-SEC second team, marking her third time receiving the honor. At the SEC Championships, Knight qualified for the “A-Final” in all three diving events and claimed silver in platform diving for her fifth SEC medal. She advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fifth straight season, setting personal bests in all three events at the Ohio State Invitational, including a Kentucky program record on the three-meter springboard.
Caitlin Brooks, a Gainesville, Florida native, was selected to the All-SEC second team for the third time in her swimming career. She won bronze in the 200 backstroke at the 2023 SEC Championships and scored a total of 54 points. At the NCAA Championships, Brooks finished 15th in the 200 back, earning All-American Honorable Mention accolades for the fifth time. She was one of four UK point scorers at the national championship meet.
The 2023 SEC All-Freshmen team includes Grace Frericks, Lydia Hanlon, and Denise Phelan. Frericks, a Cedar Falls, Iowa native, was part of the NCAA qualifying 800 FR for the Wildcats. Hanlon had an excellent SEC Championship debut, making three finals and placing inside the top-10 in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. The Tallahassee, Florida native went on to compete in both events at the NCAA Championships. Phelan, a Commack, New York native, scored 46 points for the Wildcats at the SEC Championships and qualified for the NCAA Championships. At the NCAA event, she finished inside the top-20 in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, setting personal best times. Phelan’s 59.38 in the 100 breast ties her for second in the program’s history for the event.
These eight outstanding Kentucky Wildcats have demonstrated their skills, perseverance, and dedication throughout the 2022-23 season, earning well-deserved recognition in the form of All-SEC honors. Their accomplishments will undoubtedly inspire their teammates and future Wildcats, as well as leave a lasting impact on the University of Kentucky’s swimming & diving program. Fans and the athletics community eagerly anticipate their continued success in the pool and beyond.
