DENVER -  The University of Denver men's and women's swimming and diving programs held their annual postseason awards banquet last week, highlighting the successes of the 2025-26 season.
 
2025-26 Captains: M: Tommy Hancock, Dylan Mes and Luke Milburn | W: Ali Beay, Peyton Mullowney and Tenaya Winter
 
2025-26 Denver Swimming and Diving Awards:
Strength and Power Award: Ali Beay, Kaitlin Calvery, Luke Milburn, Dakota Parker
Honor bestowed upon an athlete recognized by the strength and conditioning staff for their efforts towards weights and dry-land.
 
Newcomer Award: Julia Saxman, Trip Gergory
This award is given to a first year athlete that had the most impact for the team performing in dual meets and at the conference championship.
 
Most Improved Award: Genevieve Franklin, Hamish McLellan
Award presented to an upperclassman that showed the most improvement over the collegiate and summer seasons.
 
Hardest Worker Award: Ali Beay, Darian Koler, Paige Reilly, Finn Holdredge, Kurt Owens, Nico Morton
Honor bestowed upon an athlete that brought a consistent superior positive attitude and honest effort to practice and competition.
 
Pioneer Pride: Luke Milburn, Peyton Mullowney
Awarded to a student-athlete who is a culture builder, a great teammate and is committed to the process, while maintaining the ability to always grow and learn.  
 
Dawn Shaner – Women's Most Inspirational Award (Voted on by team): Zoe Lynch
This award is named after the women's former team captain, Dawn Shaner.  Dawn was the Intermountain Conference Champion in the 50 Free, placed 2nd in the 200 Free, 3rd in the 100 Free, and anchored the winning 200 Free relay.   At the ISL championships, Dawn was already feeling the effects of leukemia unbeknownst to anyone at the time.  She had a shoulder injury that would not heal due to her disease and her stamina in longer races was affected—all due to her cancer.  Her attitude did not falter, and she was honored as the Women's Swimming MVP in 1992 and the Sportswoman of Colorado honored her with the 1993 Most Courageous Award.  Our record board is also named in honor of Dawn.  She passed away in February of 1993 at the age of 20.  This award is presented to a student-athlete on the women's team who inspired their teammates with their determination and performance.
 
Jim Bain Pioneer Spirit Award – Men's Most Inspirational (Voted on by team): Tommy Hancock
At the helm of Pioneer swimming for 32 years, Jim Bain retired as head coach in 2003.  Jim epitomizes what it means to be a Pioneer.  Jim brought his love and passion for teaching to the pool deck each day through his positive, encouraging nature and is still the ultimate fan of Denver Swimming & Diving and the University.  This award is presented to a student-athlete on the men's team who motivated his teammates.
 
Women's Team MVP: Julia Saxman
Brad Busse Men's Team MVP: Hamish McLellan
 
2025-26 Summit League Awards:
Summit League End of Year Awards:
Women's Summit League Swimmer of the Year: Julia Saxman
Women's Summit League Diver of the Year: Savanna Berry
 
Summit League Championship Awards:
Women's Swimming Championship MVP – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 60 Points
Women's Newcomer of the Championship – Julia Saxman – 60 Points
Women's Diving Championship MVP – Savanna Berry – 40 Points
Women's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year – Alicia Hicken-Franklin
Women's Diving Coach of the Year – Aaron D'Addario
 
Summit League All-Academic Team:
Women's Swimming and Diving Academic All-League Team
Savanna Berry
Kaitlin Calvery
Tenaya Winter
Lilly Zippel

Men's Swimming and Diving Academic All-League Team
Colin Breuer
Finn Holdredge
Hamish McLellan
Dylan Mes
Nico Morton
 
All-Summit League Team:
Denver Women's Swimming and Diving All-League Honorees (15)
Savanna Berry (team dive, 1M dive, 3M dive)
Tatum Brasfield (team dive)
Kaitlin Calvery (team dive, 1M dive, 3M dive)
Ali Beay (200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 100 back, 400 medley relay)
Tenaya Winter (200 medley relay, 800 free relay, 200 free relay, 100 breast, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay)
Julia Saxman (200 medley relay, 50 free, 200 free relay, 100 fly, 400 medley relay, 100 free, 400 free relay)
Isa Cardenas (200 medley relay, 50 free, 200 free relay, 100 fly, 400 medley relay, 100 free, 400 free relay)
Samantha Synsvoll (800 free relay, 200 IM, 200 free, 200 back)
Izzy Burton (800 free relay, 400 free relay)
Sabrina Rachjaibun (800 free relay, 500 free, 400 IM, 200 fly)
Mina Ada Solaker (200 IM, 400 IM)
Lilly Zippel (400 IM)
Darian Koler (100 back, 200 back)
Peyton Mullowney (200 breast)
Genevieve Franklin (1650 free)
 
Denver Men's Swimming and Diving All-League Honorees (19)
Trip Gregory (1M dive, team dive)
Dakotah Parker (1M dive, team dive)
Liam Simmons (200 medley relay)
Kito Campbell (200 medley relay, 100 breast, 400 medley relay, 200 breast)
Hamish McLellan (200 medley relay, 50 free, 200 free relay, 100 fly, 400 medley relay, 100 free, 400 free relay)
Matija Pantic (200 medley relay, 800 free relay, 200 free relay, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay)
Kurt Owens (800 free relay)
Pierce Bickerton (800 free relay, 500 free, 200 free)
Dylan Mes (800 free relay, 500 free, 200 free)
Nico Morton (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast)
Colin Breuer (team dive, 3M dive)
Benjamin Stone (200 free relay, 400 free relay)
Luke Milburn (200 free relay)
Noah Laird (400 IM)
Quinn Collins (400 medley relay, 200 back)
Ian O'Neil (200 fly)
Finn Holdredge (1650 free)
Max O'Neil (1650 free)
Tommy Hancock (400 free relay)
 
2026 Summit League Championship Event Winners
Women's Team Diving – Savanna Berry, Tatum Brasfield, Kaitlin Calvery – 263.05
Women's 200 Medley Relay – Ali Beay, Tenaya Winter, Julia Saxman, Isa Cardenas – 1:39.18
Women's 800 Free Relay – Tenaya Winter, Samantha Synsvoll, Izzy Burton, Sabrina Rachjaibun – 7:17.72
Men's 800 Free Relay – Matija Pantic, Kurt Owens, Pierce Bickerton, Dylan Mes  - 6:31.84
Women's 500 Free – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 4:49.40 (2^nd in the event, 2^nd overall)
Women's 200 IM - Samantha Synsvoll – 2:00.13 (1^st in the event, 1^st overall)
Men's 200 IM – Nico Morton – 1:47.44 (1^st in the event, 2^nd overall)
Women's 50 Free – Julia Saxman – 22.75 (1^st in the event, 1^st overall)
Women's 1-Meter Dive – Savanna Berry – 261.25 (2^nd in the event, 3^rd overall)
Women's 200 Free Relay – Julia Saxman, Tenaya Winter, Ali Beay, Isa Cardenas – 1:31.31
Women's 100 Fly – Julia Saxman – 52.86 (1^st in the event, 2^nd overall)
Men's 100 Fly – Hamish McLellan – 46.53 (1^st in the event, 1^st overall)
Women's 400 IM – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 4:14.97 (1^st in the event, 3^rd overall)
Men's 400 IM – Nico Morton – 3:49.45 (2^nd in the event, 3^rd overall)
Women's 200 Free – Samantha Synsvoll – 1:48.33 (1^st in the event, 2^nd overall)
Men's 200 Free – Pierce Bickerton – 1:37.69 (1^st in the event, 1^st overall)
Men's 100 Breast – Kito Campbell – 52.61 (1^st in the event, 1^st overall)
Women's 100 Back – Ali Beay – 54.42 (1^st in the event, 2^nd overall)
Men's 3-Meter Dive – Colin Breuer – 335.00 (1^st in the event, 1^st overall)
Women's 3-Meter Dive – Savanna Berry – 286.05 (2^nd in the event, 4^th overall)
Women's 400 Medley Relay – Ali Beay, Tenaya Winter, Julia Saxman, Isa Cardenas – 3:40.34
Women's 200 Back – Darian Koler – 1:57.76 (1^st in the event, 1^st overall)
Women's 100 Free – Julia Saxman – 50.14 (1^st in the event, 3^rd overall)
Women's 200 Fly – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 1:59.06 (1^st in the event, 4^th overall)
Women's 400 Free Relay – Tenaya Winter, Julia Saxman, Izzy Burton, Isa Cardenas - 3:22.08
 
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