Swimming and Diving Honors Team With 2025 Team Awards
5/6/2025 6:25:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
HOUSTON - The Rice Owls swimming and diving team honored six student-athletes in its 2025 coaches awards, celebrating members of the 2024-25 squad who won the team's first American Athletic Conference Championship.
"The Owls have a lot to celebrate this year," said head coach Seth Huston. "These student-athletes earned our annual coaches awards for standout seasons that help lead the way to our first AAC Championship."
Ava Portello earned the first honor of the night, earning the Rookie of the Year award after a campaign that saw the freshman earn AAC Freshman of the Year honors. In the AAC Championship, Portello earned three podium finishes, including her first conference championship in the 500 Free.
The next award was the Natalie Kirchhoff Inspirational Performance award, awarded to Megan Phillip, who used her final year of eligibility to dive for the Owls, helping lead the team to the conference title while battling back after an ankle injury during her time at Minnesota. Dive accounted for 136 points in the conference championship, helping lead the Owls to the title.
The next award was the Kathryn Scholl True Blue award, awarded to Sami Johnson. This honor is awarded to the Owl swimmer with the best enthusiasm and positive attitude at meets and during daily practice.
Ava Hamblett and Abigail King were both awarded with the Most Improved award this year. Hamblett earned her first conference title this season with a 1:55.81 finish in the 200 Back, while King posted two top-five finishes in the 100 and 200 Back. King also earned a podium finish in the NIC, placing in second in the 50 Back.
The final award was award to Arielle Hayon, who was named the MVP of the 2024-25 squad. Hayon collected her sixth and seventh individual conference championships this season, which included sweeping the 100 Fly across two conferences in her collegiate career.
"The Owls have a lot to celebrate this year," said head coach Seth Huston. "These student-athletes earned our annual coaches awards for standout seasons that help lead the way to our first AAC Championship."
Ava Portello earned the first honor of the night, earning the Rookie of the Year award after a campaign that saw the freshman earn AAC Freshman of the Year honors. In the AAC Championship, Portello earned three podium finishes, including her first conference championship in the 500 Free.
The next award was the Natalie Kirchhoff Inspirational Performance award, awarded to Megan Phillip, who used her final year of eligibility to dive for the Owls, helping lead the team to the conference title while battling back after an ankle injury during her time at Minnesota. Dive accounted for 136 points in the conference championship, helping lead the Owls to the title.
The next award was the Kathryn Scholl True Blue award, awarded to Sami Johnson. This honor is awarded to the Owl swimmer with the best enthusiasm and positive attitude at meets and during daily practice.
Ava Hamblett and Abigail King were both awarded with the Most Improved award this year. Hamblett earned her first conference title this season with a 1:55.81 finish in the 200 Back, while King posted two top-five finishes in the 100 and 200 Back. King also earned a podium finish in the NIC, placing in second in the 50 Back.
The final award was award to Arielle Hayon, who was named the MVP of the 2024-25 squad. Hayon collected her sixth and seventh individual conference championships this season, which included sweeping the 100 Fly across two conferences in her collegiate career.
Players Mentioned
Free/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Free, Fly, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & DivingWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02