HONOLULU—After sweeping the Big West Championships, the University of Hawai'i men's and women's swimming and diving teams earned eight of the conference's major awards, the Big West announced Friday.

In just his second year at the helm, Steve Allnutt was named Big West Men's and Women's Coach of the Year after leading both programs to conference titles. At the Big West Championships, the Rainbow Warriors totaled 780 points with 22 podium finishes, including 12 gold medals. The Rainbow Wahine totaled 798 points with 20 medal performances, highlighted by six event victories. The performance in Houston marked the fourth time in program history that the Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine swept conference titles. 

Allnutt also guided three swimmers to NCAA automatic qualifying marks and oversaw three Big West record-breaking swimming performances. His Coach of the Year sweep marks the 12th overall coaching honor in program history across both men's and women's teams and the fourth time a UH coach has earned the award for both squads in the same season.

Karol Ostrowski earned Big West Men's Swimmer of the Year honors for the first time in his career following a dominant championship performance. He posted a meet-high seven podium finishes, including six gold medals in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, and 400 free relay.

Ostrowski returns to the NCAA Championships with automatic qualifying times in the 50 free (19.13), 100 free (42.41), and 100 back (46.16). His 100 free time broke his own Big West record of 42.51 set at last season's conference championship. Earlier this year, Ostrowski was named Big West Athlete of the Week (Jan. 6, 2026) after winning four events against BYU. Ostrowski becomes UH's first conference swimmer of the year since Olli Kokko in 2020.

On the diving side, Brandon Blaisdell was named Big West Men's and Women's Coach of the Year for a second straight season, earning his third consecutive conference coach of the year sweep. Under his direction, the 'Bows swept the diving competition at championships.

Blaisdell guided standouts Juan Esteban Ramirez Tamayo and Macie Wheeler to two event titles apiece, while Lovisa Gustavsson, Keira Chandler, and Oliver Wignall each secured podium finishes in their first career conference championship appearances. UH divers combined for five golds, four silvers, and five bronzes, along with three Big West record performances.

Blaisdell's Men's Diving Coach of the Year honor marks the 15th overall in program history, while his Women's Diving Coach of the Year honor is the 20th overall.

Wheeler, the reigning Big West Women's Diver of the Year, successfully defended her title after another outstanding campaign. She captured conference titles in the 1-meter with a Big West record mark of 311.85 and in the 3-meter with a score of 352.70, and added a fifth-place finish in the platform (216.50). Wheeler is UH's first back-to-back women's Diver of the Year honoree since Daphne Wils (2020-21).

The 'Bows swept the Big West Freshman Diver of the Year accolades with Chandler on the women's side and Wignall claiming the men's honor. Chandler claimed silver medals in the platform (244.05) and 3-meter (305.00), and finished fourth in the 1-meter (278.15). Wignall earned bronze medals in the 1-meter (294.55), 3-meter (305.30), and platform (354.50) in his championship debut.

UH has now claimed the first two Big West Freshman Men's and Women's Diver of the Year awards since the conference reinstated its championship meet.

UH tallied a total of 27 athletes on the All-Big West team, earning a combined 69 all-conference honors. The Rainbow Warriors accounted for 12 selections and 37 honors, while the Rainbow Wahine totaled 15 members and 32 honors. Ostrowski earned a team-high seven honors, matching his total from last season, while Holly Nelson paced the Rainbow Wahine with six selections.


2025-26 Big West Swimming & Diving Awards

Men's Big West Swimming & Diving Awards

• Men's Swimmer of the Year: Karol Ostrowski, Hawai'i
• Men's Diver of the Year: Omar Elsayed, Grand Canyon
• Men's Freshman Swimmer the Year: Landon Egeland, UC San Diego
• Men's Freshman Diver of the Year: Oliver Wignall, Hawai'i
• Men's Swimming Coach of the Year: Steve Allnutt, Hawai'i
• Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Brandon Blaisdell, Hawai'i

• Women's Swimmer of the Year: Eva Boehlke, UC San Diego
• Women's Diver of the Year: Macie Wheeler, Hawai'i
• Women's Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Ella Ackerman, UC Davis
• Women's Freshman Diver of the Year: Keira Chandler, Hawai'i
• Women's Swimming Coach of the Year: Steve Allnutt, Hawai'i
• Women's Diving Coach of the Year: Brandon Blaisdell, Hawai'i

Men's All-Big West Honorees (12)

• Finn Brophy (100 free, 200 MR, 400 MR, 200 FR, 400 MR)
• Tom Caps (100 breast, 200 MR, 400 MR)
• Victor Dagenais (200 free, 200 fly, 400 FR, 800 FR)
• Karol Ostrowski (50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 200 MR, 400 MR, 200 FR, 400 FR)
• Juan Esteban Ramirez Tamayo (1M, 3M, Platform)
• Regan Richardson (200 FR, 800 FR)
• Jack Simon (200 MR, 400 MR)
• Tom Thalau (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast, 400 FR, 800 FR)
• Korey Tiell (200 back)
• Aleks Tomaszewski (200 FR)
• Oliver Wignall (1M, 3M, Platform)
• Adam Zdybel (800 FR)

Women's All-Big West Honorees (15)

• Brooke Bennett (800 FR)
• Mia Blazhevska Eminova (200 fly, 400 FR, 800 FR)
• Keira Chandler (3M, Platform)
• Lovisa Gustavsson (1M, 3M, Platform)
• Carlotta Ingenerf (400 IM)
• Gabriela Kelly (800 FR)
• Quincy Key (50 free, 200 FR, 400 FR)
• Alexia Kovaluk (200 FR)
• Eva Kovaluk (400 MR)
• Rebekka Luoto (800 FR)
• Isabelle Meraz (400 MR)
• Holly Nelson (50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, 200 FR, 400 FR, 400 MR)
• Ruby Pickron (1M)
• Zofia Tyminska (200 breast, 200 IM, 200 FR, 400 FR, 400 MR)
• Macie Wheeler (1M, 3M)

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