DENVER – Following a voting by the eight head coaches, the 2021-22 WAC Women's Swimming and Diving individual awards have been named. Northern Colorado's Madelyn Moore was named WAC Swimmer of the Year and California Baptist's Paula De Moya Alvarez was named WAC Diver of the Year. Grand Canyon's Maria Brunlehner was named WAC Freshman of the Year while her coach Steve Schaffer was named WAC Coach of the Year. California Baptist's Jeff Couto was named Diving Coach of the Year.
Moore won her second consecutive WAC Swimmer of the Year honors after being a three-time champion at the 2022 WAC Swimming and Diving Championships in Houston. She won the titles in the 50 freestyle (22.17), the 100 freestyle (49.10) and the 100 backstroke (53.14). She also anchored Bears' gold medal winning 400 medley relay (3:38.40)
De Moya Alvarez earned the WAC Diver of the Year honors after winning two out of the three diving events at the 2022 WAC Swimming and Diving Championships. She won the 3-meter with a score of 323.10 and the platform with a CBU program record score of 273.65.
Brunlehner earned the WAC Freshman of the Year honors after winning two individual titles and a runner-up finish at the 2022 WAC Swimming and Diving Championship. She won the 100 breastroke with a time of 1:01.05 and the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:59.17. She won silver in the 100 freestyle with a time of 49.41. She was also part of and won three more gold medals in the 800 freestyle (7:17.68), 200 freestyle (1:30.05) and the 400 freestyle relays (3:18.34).
Schaffer wins his first WAC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Lopes to a runner-up finish at the WAC Swimming and Diving Championships. The Lopes won a total of nine championship titles, five runner-up finishes and four bronze medals. Schaffer coached two 2020 Tokyo Olympics Game qualifiers, Talita Te Flan and Emily Muteti.
Couto snatched the WAC Diving Coach of the Year honors for the second year in a row after leading the Lancer divers to win two out of the three WAC Diving Championship titles with a total of four top-five finishes. Prior to the WAC, he coached eight NCAA All-American divers with a total of 28 awards and also coached multiple NAIA National Champions.