BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas A&M head women's coach Steve Bultman was named the 2018 Southeastern Conference Women's Swimming Coach of the Year and junior Sydney Pickrem received the Commissioner's Trophy and Swimmer of the Year honors, the conference office announced on Thursday.
Under Bultman's direction, the Aggies won the SEC team title for a third straight year and went on to place third at the NCAA Championships, which matched the highest national finish in program history. For Bultman, it was the 16th time that he been honored as a conference coach of the year or coach of the meet. It was his third SEC Coach of the Year honor after earning the award in 2014 and 2017.
Pickrem was brilliant as a junior with three individual victories at the SEC Championships and she also anchored the Aggies' winning 800 free relay. At the NCAA Championships, Pickrem picked up the bronze medal in the 200 and 400 IM and the 200 breaststroke. She set school records in the 200 and 400 IM and helped the 800 free relay to the school best.
Also being honored by the SEC were 13 Texas A&M women's swimmers and divers that earned first- or second-team All-SEC honors or were named to the All-Freshman Team.
All-SEC First Team
Anna Belousova – 100 breaststroke
Alais Kalonji – platform dive
Kristin Malone – 800 free relay
Sydney Pickrem – 200/400 IM, 200 breaststroke, 800 free relay
Katie Portz – 800 free relay
Claire Rasmus – 200 freestyle, 800 free relay
Jing Quah – 200 butterfly
All-SEC Second Team
Lisa Bratton – 100/200 backstroke, 200/400 medley relay
Jorie Caneta – 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay
Raena Eldridge – 200 medley relay
Bethany Galat – 400 IM, 200 breaststroke
All-Freshman Team
Anna Belousova
Charlye Campbell
Taylor Pike
Jing Quah
Under Bultman's direction, the Aggies won the SEC team title for a third straight year and went on to place third at the NCAA Championships, which matched the highest national finish in program history. For Bultman, it was the 16th time that he been honored as a conference coach of the year or coach of the meet. It was his third SEC Coach of the Year honor after earning the award in 2014 and 2017.
Pickrem was brilliant as a junior with three individual victories at the SEC Championships and she also anchored the Aggies' winning 800 free relay. At the NCAA Championships, Pickrem picked up the bronze medal in the 200 and 400 IM and the 200 breaststroke. She set school records in the 200 and 400 IM and helped the 800 free relay to the school best.
Also being honored by the SEC were 13 Texas A&M women's swimmers and divers that earned first- or second-team All-SEC honors or were named to the All-Freshman Team.
All-SEC First Team
Anna Belousova – 100 breaststroke
Alais Kalonji – platform dive
Kristin Malone – 800 free relay
Sydney Pickrem – 200/400 IM, 200 breaststroke, 800 free relay
Katie Portz – 800 free relay
Claire Rasmus – 200 freestyle, 800 free relay
Jing Quah – 200 butterfly
All-SEC Second Team
Lisa Bratton – 100/200 backstroke, 200/400 medley relay
Jorie Caneta – 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay
Raena Eldridge – 200 medley relay
Bethany Galat – 400 IM, 200 breaststroke
All-Freshman Team
Anna Belousova
Charlye Campbell
Taylor Pike
Jing Quah