Sims Named B1G Swimmer of the Year, Bowe Earns Coach of the Year
4/2/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Bella Sims of the University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team was named Big Ten Women's Swimmer of the Year, and head coach Matt Bowe earned Swimming Coach of the Year honors, the conference announced Thursday (April 2).
Sims made an immediate impact in her first season in Ann Arbor, most recently capturing the program's first individual national title in the 400-yard IM. The junior won two individual Big Ten titles to propel the Maize and Blue to its first team championship since 2018 and was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships.
In one season, Sims owns three individual school records and is part of three relay program marks. She earned two Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors and was also recognized as Swimcloud Swimmer of the Week once.
Bowe took the program to new heights in 2025-26, leading the Maize and Blue to an 11-2 record in the regular season and guiding U-M to the Big Ten championship, the program's 18th conference crown.
Under Bowe's direction, Michigan finished sixth overall at the NCAA Championships, its best finish since the 2020-21 season. Michigan has improved by three places in each of the last two years at the NCAA Championships.
Players Mentioned
