For the third straight season, junior Lilly King was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year.
Not only is King is the first woman in Big Ten history to earn the accolade three straight seasons, she’s the first to have three overall.
King impressed this season, beginning at the Big Ten Championships, where she won the 100 and 200 breaststroke, also for the third consecutive year. She also dominated the relays, winning the 400 medley and claiming silver in the 200 medley. After her performances, she was named First-Team All-Big Ten.
At the most important time of the season, the NCAA Championships, King proved her worth. She won the 100 and 200 breaststroke, breaking the American, NCAA, NCAA Meet, U.S. Open, McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion pool and IU records.
Despite not winning either of her relays, King aided the team to a silver and bronze place finish in the 400 and 200 medley, respectively.
The Big Ten Swimmer of the Year accolade has been handed out to a Hoosier eight out of the past ten years - King (2016-18), Brooklynn Snodgrass (2014), Lindsay Vrooman (2013), Allysa Vavra (2012) and Kate Fesenko (2009-10).
Closing her junior season, the Evansville native has racked up six NCAA championships and 12 Big Ten titles and has the opportunity to add to that total during her senior season.
TC Malik
