ARLINGTON, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced on Thursday its Women’s and Men’s Swimming and Diving Postseason Awards sponsored by University Credit Union, as voted on by the league’s eight women’s and six men’s head coaches.  
 
California Baptist’s junior Sofia Maksimova was named WAC Women’s Swimmer of the Year. Northern Arizona’s sophomore Mackenna Stocker earned WAC Women’s Diver of the Year. Northern Colorado’s Kyra Rabess claimed WAC Women’s Freshman of the Year. Northern Arizona’s Andy Johns and New Mexico State’s Rick Pratt were named WAC Swimming Coaches of the Year, while Northern Arizona’s Nikki Kelsey earned WAC Diving Coach of the Year.
 
On the men’s side, UNLV’s senior George Ratiu was named WAC Swimmer of the Year. California Baptist freshman Mario Del Valle earned WAC Diver and Freshman of Year. UNLV’s Ben Loorz claimed WAC Swimming Coach of the Year and California Baptist’s Miranda King was named WAC Diving Coach of the Year.
 
Maksimova earned WAC Women’s Swimmer of the Year honors after winning the 50-yard free and 100-yard fly at the 2024 WAC Swimming and Diving Championships. She won the 50 free with a time of 21.89. Maksimova broke the WAC meet record with her 50 free prelims time of 21.79, breaking the previous record of 22.30 that was set in 2011. In the 100 fly, she earned her second gold medal of the championships with a time of 52.54. Maksimova also led off the first place California Baptist 400-yard free relay team. She was invited to the 2024 NCAA championships to participate in the 50-yard free event.
 
Stocker earned WAC Women’s Diver of the Year honors after becoming the only diver at the 2024 WAC Championships to place in the top eight of all three diving events. She placed first in platform diving with a score of 278.50, setting a new program record for the ‘Jacks. Stocker finished second in the 3-meter dive with a final score of 306.30. She also placed fourth in the 1-meter (287.80).
 
Rabess claimed WAC Freshman of the Year honors after scoring 49 individual points at the championship. She placed second in 1650 free with a time of 16:36.52. She also placed second in the 200-yard free with a 1:49.09. In the 500-yard free, Rabess placed fourth with a mark of 4:49.79. She also anchored the second place Northern Colorado 800-yard free relay team in 1:48.09.
 
Pratt claimed WAC Women’s Swimming Co-Coach of the Year after leading New Mexico State to a third-place finish at the 2024 WAC Swimming and Diving Championships. The Aggies won a total of one gold, four silver and five bronze medals.
 
Johns earned WAC Women’s Swimming Co-Coach of the Year after leading the ‘Jacks to their 11th consecutive WAC Championship. Johns earned his ninth WAC Coach of the Year honor as Northern Arizona won a total of six gold, four silver and two bronze medals at the 2024 WAC Championships.
 
Kelsey earned her tenth WAC Women’s Diving Coach of the Year honor after leading Northern Arizona to first-place finishes in each of the diving events. The ‘Jacks swept the podium in both the 1 and 3-meter.
 
Ratiu earned WAC Men’s Swimmer of the Year honors after scoring 57 individual points at the championship. He collected two gold individual medals, placing first in the 100-yard fly (46.21) and 100-yard free (43.74). He placed second in the 50-yard free (19.44). Ratiu was also a part of UNLV’s first-place 200-yard free relay (1:17.53), 400-yard free relay (2:51.65), 200-yard medley relay (1:24.47) and 400-yard medley relay (3:08.18) teams.
 
Del Valle earned WAC Men’s Diver and Freshman of the Year after breaking conference meet records in both the 1-meter and platform diving events. In the 1-meter, Del Valle broke his own teammate Gael Jiminez’s meet record (389.40) that was set at last year’s championship with a final score of 408.20. He then shattered a near 20-year-old meet record in platform with an impressive 473.40 points, the previous record was set in 2015 (330.90). Del Valle also placed second in the 3-meter with a score of 396.65.
 
Loorz earned his third WAC Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year honor after leading the Rebels to their fourth consecutive WAC Championship. UNLV won a total of 11 gold, seven silver and one bronze medals at the 2024 WAC Championships.
 
King earned her first WAC Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honor in her first year with the Lancers after leading them to first-place finishes in each of the diving events. Under King’s leadership, Valle and Jiminez combined for 111 individual points scored at the championship.
 
2024 WAC Swimming and Diving Postseason Awards
 
WOMEN’S SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
Sofia Maksimova, Jr., California Baptist
 
WOMEN’S DIVER OF THE YEAR
Mackenna Stocker, So., Northern Arizona
 
WOMEN’S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Kyra Rabess, Northern Colorado
 
WOMEN’S SWIMMING COACHES OF THE YEAR
Rick Pratt, NM State
Andy Johns, Northern Arizona
 
WOMEN’S DIVING COACH OF THE YEAR
Nikki Kelsey, Northern Arizona  
 
MEN’S SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
George Ratiu, Sr., UNLV
 
MEN’S DIVER AND FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Mario Del Valle, California Baptist  
 
MEN’S SWIMMING COACH OF THE YEAR
Ben Loorz, UNLV
 
MEN’S DIVING COACH OF THE YEAR
Miranda King, California Baptist