University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography 2019
Bacon, Chen Receive B1G Postseason Recognition
3/25/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Minnesota diving program has been honored with post-season conference awards as Sarah Bacon has been selected as the Big Ten Diver of the Year and Wenbo Chen has been named the Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year. This is Bacon's first B1G Diver of the Year nod and the sixth award for Chen who was also recognized in 2010, '13, '15, '16 and '17.
Bacon earns this year's award after defending her 2018 NCAA Title on the One-meter springboard with an NCAA record six-dive score of 363.20 to become the 2019 NCAA Champion and the first back-to-back champion in program history*. Her record score replaces the previous record of 361.55 set by Stanford's Cassidy Krug, which held for 12 years until Bacon bested it this past week.
In addition to her One-meter Title, Bacon also finished in the top-five on the Three-meter springboard at NCAA Championships. Her score of 373.65 earned her fifth place and All-American honors to match those she earned as a Champion. Earlier this season, she placed first in the Three-meter competition at the B1G Championships with a score of 430.60 to become the 2019 B1G Three-meter Diving Champion. Her score set a new pool, school and Big Ten record as well.
This year's recognition of Coach Chen follows a season where two of his female divers qualified for the NCAA Champions, with Bacon taking home the One-meter Title and All-American honors on both her events and Kristen Hayden earning Honorable Mention All-American accolades on Three-meter. Chen has led three divers (Kelci Bryant, Yu Zhou, Bacon) to win six NCAA Titles over the course of the past nine seasons. He is the foundation of what makes Minnesota one of the top diving programs in the nation on a consistent basis.
B1G Postseason Honorees
Swimmer of the Year: Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
Diver of the Year: Sarah Bacon, Minnesota
Swimming Coach of the Year: Mike Bottom, Michigan
Diving Coach of the Year: Wenbo Chen, Minnesota
*Kelci Bryant was an NCAA Champion in consecutive years, but her Titles were in two different events (Three-meter in 2010, One-meter in 2011).
Bacon earns this year's award after defending her 2018 NCAA Title on the One-meter springboard with an NCAA record six-dive score of 363.20 to become the 2019 NCAA Champion and the first back-to-back champion in program history*. Her record score replaces the previous record of 361.55 set by Stanford's Cassidy Krug, which held for 12 years until Bacon bested it this past week.
In addition to her One-meter Title, Bacon also finished in the top-five on the Three-meter springboard at NCAA Championships. Her score of 373.65 earned her fifth place and All-American honors to match those she earned as a Champion. Earlier this season, she placed first in the Three-meter competition at the B1G Championships with a score of 430.60 to become the 2019 B1G Three-meter Diving Champion. Her score set a new pool, school and Big Ten record as well.
This year's recognition of Coach Chen follows a season where two of his female divers qualified for the NCAA Champions, with Bacon taking home the One-meter Title and All-American honors on both her events and Kristen Hayden earning Honorable Mention All-American accolades on Three-meter. Chen has led three divers (Kelci Bryant, Yu Zhou, Bacon) to win six NCAA Titles over the course of the past nine seasons. He is the foundation of what makes Minnesota one of the top diving programs in the nation on a consistent basis.
B1G Postseason Honorees
Swimmer of the Year: Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
Diver of the Year: Sarah Bacon, Minnesota
Swimming Coach of the Year: Mike Bottom, Michigan
Diving Coach of the Year: Wenbo Chen, Minnesota
*Kelci Bryant was an NCAA Champion in consecutive years, but her Titles were in two different events (Three-meter in 2010, One-meter in 2011).
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