Kristina Orban, Maurice Grabowski Named CSCAA Division II Swimmers of the Year
Kristina Orban of Nova Southeastern and Lynn’s Maurice Grabowski were named the Division II Swimmers of the Year by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America on Tuesday.
National championship coaches Ben Hewitt of Nova Southeastern and Jimi Kiner of Tampa won the coaching awards. Hewitt led Nova Southeastern to its fourth consecutive NCAA women’s title; he won the award in 2023 and 2025.
Kiner won the award in 2024 when Tampa last won the men’s title.
Orban won three individual and three relay titles at the NCAA Championships last weekend in Evansville, Indiana. She claimed gold in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle in the same session, then captured the 100 free. Orban also helped Nova Southeastern set NCAA records in the 200 medley and 400 free relays as well was winning the 800 free relay.
Lynn’s Grabowski was sensational, winning four NCAA title. He claimed the 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly and 100 backstroke. He also helped Lynn set the NCAA record in the 200 medley relay.
Clarion’s Luna Castellanos was named the women’s diver of the year. She won the 1-meter event at NCAAs and finished third on 3-meter, an event won by teammate Colleen Hudson. Her coach, Heath Calhoun, was an easy pick for women’s diving coach of the year for the fourth straight season. Golden Eagles finished first, third and fourth on 1-meter and first, second, third and sixth on 3-meter.
Delta State’s Santiago Santodomingo was named men’s diver of the year. He won 3-meter diving at NCAAs and finished third.
The men’s diving coach of the year honor went to Julie Weddle of Colorado Mesa. She coached Ryan Campbell to runner-up finishes on both 1-meter and 3-meter. The Mavericks had four 3-meter finalists and three in the top nine on 1-meter, CMU scoring 92 points that were instrumental to them finishing third in the team standings.
The full list of All-American honors is available here. The top eight individuals and relay teams earned First Team All-America honors, while those finishing ninth through 16th received Second Team recognition.
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