Auböck, Todd, Bottom Named Recipients of Big Ten Yearly Awards
5/13/2020 11:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
• Watch: Todd on Winning Big Ten Diver of the Year
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team won three of the four Big Ten awards on Wednesday (May 13), including senior Felix Auböck (Men's Swimmer of the Year), junior Ross Todd (Diver of the Year) and head coach Mike Bottom (Swimming Coach of the Year). The award winners were voted upon by the conference's head coaches.
Auböck (Vienna, Austria) is Big Ten Men's Swimmer of the Year for the second time after also having received the award as a freshman in 2017. He joins an elite group of Michigan swimmers -- all U.S. Olympic medalists -- who were named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year at least twice in their careers: Connor Jaeger (2013, 2014), Tyler Clary (2009, 2010), Peter Vanderkaay (2002, 2005, 2006), Chris Thompson (1999, 2001) and Tom Dolan (1994, 1995).
Aubö;ck was a three-time Big Ten champion in 2020, winning individual titles in the 500-yard freestyle (4:10.14) and 1,650-yard freestyle (14:30.10), while swimming a leg on the winning 800-yard freestyle relay. He became the fourth man in Big Ten history to sweep the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyles at four consecutive Big Ten Championships. In lieu of the NCAA Championships, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Auböck was named a five-time All-American by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). An Academic All-Big Ten selection, Auböck graduated with degrees in history and political science.
Todd (Adelaide, Australia) becomes the first man in program history to earn Big Ten Diver of the Year honors. He won three medals at the Big Ten Championships and was named Big Ten Co-Diver of the Championships, sharing the award with Ohio State's Lyle Yost. Todd won gold on the one-meter springboard, the program's first Big Ten champion diver in any event in 16 years, in addition to a silver medal on three-meter and a bronze medal on platform. He was a three-time CSCAA All-American. Todd, a psychology major, also received Academic All-Big Ten recognition.
Bottom is Big Ten Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career (six in men's swimming, two in women's swimming). He coached the Wolverines to their 41st Big Ten title, ending Indiana's three-year run atop the conference with a 219-point victory over second-place Ohio State. Bottom coached 12 swimmers to NCAA Championships qualification, while a total of 21 swimmers and divers earned CSCAA All-America honors. Academically, the Wolverines had 21 swimmers and divers receive Academic All-Big Ten recognition this year, which comprised 78 percent of the student-athletes eligible for the award on the 2019-20 roster.
Players Mentioned
