PROVO, Utah – Jake Taylor was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Swimmer of the Year while head coach John Brooks and head diving coach Tyce Routson were named swim and dive Coaches of the Year for the 2015-2016 season.
This is the second straight MPSF Swimmer of the Year honor for Taylor, who earned the award last year as well. Taylor is the first swimmer in MPSF history to win the award in back-to-back years. The senior captain, who is a four-time First-Team All-American, etched his name in the MPSF and BYU record books throughout his collegiate career. Currently, he holds four individual school records in the 200-yard freestyle (1:35.03), 100 backstroke (45.34), 200 back (1:39.76) and 200 individual medley (1:43.50). He is also a part of four relay teams that hold BYU records in the 200 medley, 400 medley, 400 free and 800 free.
Taylor set an MPSF championship record in the 100 back (45.53) in 2015, and set records in the 200 back (1:40.96) and 200 IM (1:43.83) at this season’s championship meet. He also contributed to MPSF championship records this season in the 400 free and 800 free relays (2:53.11 and 6:26.28). To finish his college career, Taylor earned First-Team All-American in the 100 back (45.52) and 200 back (1:39.93) and Second-Team All-American in the 200 IM (1:42.89) at the 2016 NCAA Championships.
Brooks, who took over as head coach in March 2012, led the men’s team to a three-peat as MPSF champions this season. The championship was the fourth for the men in six seasons the meet has taken place. Brooks helped 20 BYU swimmers to All-MPSF performances this season. Under his coaching, Taylor and sophomore Payton Sorenson earned trips to the NCAA Championships, where the men’s team finished 21st. This is Brooks’ second-straight MPSF swim coach of the year honor.
In his first season as head diving coach at BYU, Routson led six divers to All-MPSF performances, including Kevin Dreesen, who was named First-Team on 1-meter, 3-meter and platform and Ali Tippetts-Kottcamp who was First-Team on 3-meter and platform as well. He also coached Dreesen to a seventh-place finish at NCAA Zones to earn his first trip to the NCAA Championships.
For more information on this season's awards, go to the MPSF website.