SINGAPORE - Joseph Schooling's stellar performance at last month's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 swim finals has earned the Singaporean the Swimmer of the Year award for his college's Big 12 conference.
The University of Texas sophomore was honoured at the post-season awards Tuesday afternoon (April 19) at the conference headquarters in Irving, Texas. The award is voted on by coaches in the Big 12 conference.
Having already been named as joint-winner of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America NCAA Division 1 Men's Swimmer of the Year, this accolade should come as no surprise. Schooling, 20, won the award with former Bolles School team-mates Ryan Murphy and Caeleb Dressel at the conclusion of the NCAA meet last month.
At the meet, Schooling defended his 100 and 200 yards butterfly titles, winning both races in US Open record times. He won another three golds in the relays.
His feats helped Texas set multiple records, eventually lifting Texas to the NCAA title. His coach, Eddie Reese, was named Swimming Coach of the Year.
Ten schools form the Big 12 conference, many of them with top athletic programmes in the NCAA's elite division.
Schooling, who was last year's Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, is tipped to make history at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August. He won Singapore's first world championships medal last year, taking bronze in the 100m butterfly event.
