Photo by: Ethan Mito/Texas A&M Athletics
Lerew Named SEC Men’s Diving Coach of the Year
Apr 12, 2023 | Men's Swimming and Diving
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas A&M's head diving coach Jay Lerew was named the SEC Men's Diving Coach of the Year, announced by the league office Wednesday morning. Seven additional Aggies earned SEC honors including Connor Foote and Baylor Nelson being named to the All-Freshman Team, with Nelson also garnering All-SEC First Team accolades alongside Victor Povzner. Kaloyan Bratanov, Takuto Endo, Anze Fers Erzen and Rhett Hensley were named to the All-SEC Second Team.
Lerew earned the league's coach of the year honor for the fourth time in his career and was named men's coach of the year for the third time in the last four seasons. He saw four men's divers qualify for NCAA Championships, brining home four All-America honors. At SEC Championships, four of the five A&M divers competing on the 1-meter advanced to finals, and all five finished top-10 to collectively add 129 points on the 1-meter, marking the most points in program history in a single event. In total, the divers collected four medals at SECs. Additionally, Joslyn Oakley earned SEC Freshman Diver of the Year on the women's side.
Povzner was named to the All-SEC First Team after an impressive performance on the 1-meter. The junior brought home his first career medal after putting up a score of 375.50 in the 1-meter final to earn gold. Povzner also earned silver on the 3-meter and went on to qualify for NCAAs on both springboards at Zones for his second consecutive year, claiming All-America distinctions in both events. Hensley burst onto the scene this postseason, beginning with a podium finish on the 1-meter, claiming third to be awarded Second Team All-SEC honors. The sophomore walk-on qualified for every NCAA diving event at Zones, and led the team on the platform as he punched his ticket to the consolation final, finishing 13th and earning Honorable Mention All-America honors. The trio of Hensley, Povzner and Endo finished top three in the 3-meter prelims at SECs. Endo joined Povzner on the medal stand as he earned bronze, and an All-SEC Second Team distinction. The Tagaho, Japan, native also qualified for NCAAs on the 3-meter at Zones.
SEC All-Freshman Team honorees, Nelson and Foote, had outstanding debut seasons. At SEC Championships, Nelson was to co-recipient of the SEC Commissioner's trophy as he scored the most points at the meet after winning the 200 IM and 400 IM and bringing home silver in the 200 back. He became the first Aggie to claim gold at SECs as a freshman and just the second to earn the Commissioner's Trophy. The Huntersville, North Carolina, native earned First Team All-SEC distinction for his victories at SECs and later added All-America honors for his top-eight finish in the 200 IM at NCAA Championships, as well as Honorable Mention All-America accolades for his top-16 times in the 400 IM and as a member of the 800 free relay. Foote highlighted his first SEC appearance in his 100 fly swim, earning sixth to add points for the team. Foote continued to impress at NCAA Championships, picking up four Honorable Mention All-America honors as a member of the 200 medley, 400 medley and 800 free relays, as well as in the 100 fly.
Also earning Second Team All-SEC recognition are Bratanov and Fers Erzen. Fers Erzen joined Nelson on the podium in the 400 IM at SECs, claiming his second career medal as he finished second. Bratanov also stood beside Nelson on the medal stand after finishing second in the 200 IM to earn the second individual medal of his career. Both seniors qualified for NCAAs in individual and relay events. Bratanov tallied three relay Honorable Mention All-America awards.
SEC Awards
SEC Men's Diving Coach of the Year – Jay Lerew
SEC All-Freshman Team – Connor Foote, Baylor Nelson
All-SEC First Team – Baylor Nelson, Victor Povzner
All-SEC Second Team – Kaloyan Bratanov, Takuto Endo, Anze Fers Erzen, Rhett Hensley
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women's swimming & diving. Fans can keep up to date with the Aggies Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter by following @AggieSwimDive.
Lerew earned the league's coach of the year honor for the fourth time in his career and was named men's coach of the year for the third time in the last four seasons. He saw four men's divers qualify for NCAA Championships, brining home four All-America honors. At SEC Championships, four of the five A&M divers competing on the 1-meter advanced to finals, and all five finished top-10 to collectively add 129 points on the 1-meter, marking the most points in program history in a single event. In total, the divers collected four medals at SECs. Additionally, Joslyn Oakley earned SEC Freshman Diver of the Year on the women's side.
Povzner was named to the All-SEC First Team after an impressive performance on the 1-meter. The junior brought home his first career medal after putting up a score of 375.50 in the 1-meter final to earn gold. Povzner also earned silver on the 3-meter and went on to qualify for NCAAs on both springboards at Zones for his second consecutive year, claiming All-America distinctions in both events. Hensley burst onto the scene this postseason, beginning with a podium finish on the 1-meter, claiming third to be awarded Second Team All-SEC honors. The sophomore walk-on qualified for every NCAA diving event at Zones, and led the team on the platform as he punched his ticket to the consolation final, finishing 13th and earning Honorable Mention All-America honors. The trio of Hensley, Povzner and Endo finished top three in the 3-meter prelims at SECs. Endo joined Povzner on the medal stand as he earned bronze, and an All-SEC Second Team distinction. The Tagaho, Japan, native also qualified for NCAAs on the 3-meter at Zones.
SEC All-Freshman Team honorees, Nelson and Foote, had outstanding debut seasons. At SEC Championships, Nelson was to co-recipient of the SEC Commissioner's trophy as he scored the most points at the meet after winning the 200 IM and 400 IM and bringing home silver in the 200 back. He became the first Aggie to claim gold at SECs as a freshman and just the second to earn the Commissioner's Trophy. The Huntersville, North Carolina, native earned First Team All-SEC distinction for his victories at SECs and later added All-America honors for his top-eight finish in the 200 IM at NCAA Championships, as well as Honorable Mention All-America accolades for his top-16 times in the 400 IM and as a member of the 800 free relay. Foote highlighted his first SEC appearance in his 100 fly swim, earning sixth to add points for the team. Foote continued to impress at NCAA Championships, picking up four Honorable Mention All-America honors as a member of the 200 medley, 400 medley and 800 free relays, as well as in the 100 fly.
Also earning Second Team All-SEC recognition are Bratanov and Fers Erzen. Fers Erzen joined Nelson on the podium in the 400 IM at SECs, claiming his second career medal as he finished second. Bratanov also stood beside Nelson on the medal stand after finishing second in the 200 IM to earn the second individual medal of his career. Both seniors qualified for NCAAs in individual and relay events. Bratanov tallied three relay Honorable Mention All-America awards.
SEC Awards
SEC Men's Diving Coach of the Year – Jay Lerew
SEC All-Freshman Team – Connor Foote, Baylor Nelson
All-SEC First Team – Baylor Nelson, Victor Povzner
All-SEC Second Team – Kaloyan Bratanov, Takuto Endo, Anze Fers Erzen, Rhett Hensley
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women's swimming & diving. Fans can keep up to date with the Aggies Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter by following @AggieSwimDive.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Swimming and Diving
IM/Back
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
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