University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
Dobson and Martter Honored with SEC Individual Awards
April 15, 2026 | Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia swimmers Kennedi Dobson and Cale Martter received individual 2025-26 postseason awards from the Southeastern Conference, as announced by the conference office in Birmingham Wednesday morning.
For the All-SEC Teams, the First Team consists of the top finisher in each event at the SEC Championships, the Second Team consists of the second-place finishers, and the Third Team consists of the third-place finishers. The All-Freshman Team consist of any redshirt or true freshman who finished either in the top eight or was the highest scoring freshman of each event at the SEC Championships, excluding relay events.
Dobson was named SEC Women's Freshman of the Year following a remarkable rookie campaign in Athens, while also receiving Second Team All-SEC plaudits. The Levittown, Pennsylvania native earned First Team CSCAA All-America citations in the 500-yard freestyle (third place) and 1,650-yard freestyle (sixth place), along with Second Team honors in the 800y freestyle relay (ninth place), 200y freestyle (13th place), and 400y freestyle relay (14th place). At the SEC Championships in Knoxville, she earned silver medals in the 500 free, 1,650 free, and 800 free relay, and a bronze in the 200 free. She broke Brittany MacLean's 12-year-old program record in the 500 free with a personal-best time of 4:30.70, becoming the fifth-fastest performer in NCAA history. By the end of the season, she had entered the program top 10 in seven different events. She is the 11th Bulldog to earn SEC Women's Freshman of the Year honors and the first since Zoie Hartman in 2020.
Martter was named a co-winner of the SEC Men's Newcomer Swimmer of the Year after transferring from Arizona State for his senior season. The Sandy Springs native earned Second Team CSCAA All-America honors in the 400y individual medley, placing 14th at NCAAs with a personal-best time of 3:39.95. He finished fifth in the 400y IM, sixth in the 200y breaststroke, and 10th in the 200y IM at the SEC Championships. In the fall, he placed first in the 200y IM, third in the 400y IM, and fourth in the 200y breaststroke at the UGA Fall Invitational.
Graduate Luca Urlando received First Team All-SEC honors for the fourth time in his career, following another terrific season. The Sacramento, California native won his fourth SEC championship in the 200y butterfly and picked up a bronze medal in the 100y butterfly. He posted NCAA cuts in eight events, including his third American Record in the 200y butterfly, posting a 1:36.41 at the UGA Fall Invitational. He earned 12 wins in dual meet competition and was twice named SEC Men's Swimmer of the Week.
Dobson was joined on the Second Team by her 800y freestyle relay teammates: seniors Shea Furse and Ieva Maluka and sophomore Marie Landreneau. It was the first All-SEC honors for the quartet, while Landreneau earned All-Freshman Team honors last season. Sophomore Drew Hitchcock was also named to the Second Team with a silver medal in the 200y butterfly and bronze medal in the 400y IM. Senior Ruard van Renen was the Bulldogs' lone third team honoree with his bronze medal in the 100y backstroke.
Four Bulldogs were recognized with SEC All-Freshman Team accolades: Dobson, Sean Green, Hayden Meyers, and Clarke Neace. Green earned First Team All-America honors in the 500y freestyle and Second Team in the 1,650y freestyle, following top-eight finishes in both events at SECs. Meyers picked up Second Team All-American honors in the 200y backstroke and won the SEC consolation final, while Neace went Second Team in the mile and took fifth in the event at SECs.
Men's Swimmer of the Year: Josh Liendo, Florida
Men's Newcomer Co-Swimmers of the Year: Cale Martter, Georgia and Sean Niewold, Alabama
Men's Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Ahmed Jaouadi, Florida
Men's Swimming Coach of the Year: Anthony Nesty, Florida
Men's Diver of the Year: Bennett Greene, Tennessee
Men's Freshman Diver of the Year: Emilio Trevino, Texas A&M
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Bryan Gilooly, Florida
Women's Swimmer of the Year: Camille Spink, Tennessee
Women's Newcomer Swimmer of the Year: Harriet Rogers, Arkansas
Women's Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Kennedi Dobson, Georgia
Women's Swimming Coach of the Year: Carol Capitani, Texas
Women's Diver of the Year: Sophie Verzyl, South Carolina
Women's Freshman Diver of the Year: Desharne Bent-Ashmeil, Tennessee
Women's Diving Coach of the Year: Juan Estevez, South Carolina
All-SEC Team
First Team
Luca Urlando
Second Team
Kennedi Dobson
Shea Furse
Drew Hitchcock
Marie Landreneau
Ieva Maluka
Third Team
Ruard van Renen
All-SEC Freshman Team
Kennedi Dobson
Sean Green
Hayden Meyers
Clarke Neace
For the All-SEC Teams, the First Team consists of the top finisher in each event at the SEC Championships, the Second Team consists of the second-place finishers, and the Third Team consists of the third-place finishers. The All-Freshman Team consist of any redshirt or true freshman who finished either in the top eight or was the highest scoring freshman of each event at the SEC Championships, excluding relay events.
Dobson was named SEC Women's Freshman of the Year following a remarkable rookie campaign in Athens, while also receiving Second Team All-SEC plaudits. The Levittown, Pennsylvania native earned First Team CSCAA All-America citations in the 500-yard freestyle (third place) and 1,650-yard freestyle (sixth place), along with Second Team honors in the 800y freestyle relay (ninth place), 200y freestyle (13th place), and 400y freestyle relay (14th place). At the SEC Championships in Knoxville, she earned silver medals in the 500 free, 1,650 free, and 800 free relay, and a bronze in the 200 free. She broke Brittany MacLean's 12-year-old program record in the 500 free with a personal-best time of 4:30.70, becoming the fifth-fastest performer in NCAA history. By the end of the season, she had entered the program top 10 in seven different events. She is the 11th Bulldog to earn SEC Women's Freshman of the Year honors and the first since Zoie Hartman in 2020.
Martter was named a co-winner of the SEC Men's Newcomer Swimmer of the Year after transferring from Arizona State for his senior season. The Sandy Springs native earned Second Team CSCAA All-America honors in the 400y individual medley, placing 14th at NCAAs with a personal-best time of 3:39.95. He finished fifth in the 400y IM, sixth in the 200y breaststroke, and 10th in the 200y IM at the SEC Championships. In the fall, he placed first in the 200y IM, third in the 400y IM, and fourth in the 200y breaststroke at the UGA Fall Invitational.
Graduate Luca Urlando received First Team All-SEC honors for the fourth time in his career, following another terrific season. The Sacramento, California native won his fourth SEC championship in the 200y butterfly and picked up a bronze medal in the 100y butterfly. He posted NCAA cuts in eight events, including his third American Record in the 200y butterfly, posting a 1:36.41 at the UGA Fall Invitational. He earned 12 wins in dual meet competition and was twice named SEC Men's Swimmer of the Week.
Dobson was joined on the Second Team by her 800y freestyle relay teammates: seniors Shea Furse and Ieva Maluka and sophomore Marie Landreneau. It was the first All-SEC honors for the quartet, while Landreneau earned All-Freshman Team honors last season. Sophomore Drew Hitchcock was also named to the Second Team with a silver medal in the 200y butterfly and bronze medal in the 400y IM. Senior Ruard van Renen was the Bulldogs' lone third team honoree with his bronze medal in the 100y backstroke.
Four Bulldogs were recognized with SEC All-Freshman Team accolades: Dobson, Sean Green, Hayden Meyers, and Clarke Neace. Green earned First Team All-America honors in the 500y freestyle and Second Team in the 1,650y freestyle, following top-eight finishes in both events at SECs. Meyers picked up Second Team All-American honors in the 200y backstroke and won the SEC consolation final, while Neace went Second Team in the mile and took fifth in the event at SECs.
Men's Swimmer of the Year: Josh Liendo, Florida
Men's Newcomer Co-Swimmers of the Year: Cale Martter, Georgia and Sean Niewold, Alabama
Men's Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Ahmed Jaouadi, Florida
Men's Swimming Coach of the Year: Anthony Nesty, Florida
Men's Diver of the Year: Bennett Greene, Tennessee
Men's Freshman Diver of the Year: Emilio Trevino, Texas A&M
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Bryan Gilooly, Florida
Women's Swimmer of the Year: Camille Spink, Tennessee
Women's Newcomer Swimmer of the Year: Harriet Rogers, Arkansas
Women's Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Kennedi Dobson, Georgia
Women's Swimming Coach of the Year: Carol Capitani, Texas
Women's Diver of the Year: Sophie Verzyl, South Carolina
Women's Freshman Diver of the Year: Desharne Bent-Ashmeil, Tennessee
Women's Diving Coach of the Year: Juan Estevez, South Carolina
All-SEC Team
First Team
Luca Urlando
Second Team
Kennedi Dobson
Shea Furse
Drew Hitchcock
Marie Landreneau
Ieva Maluka
Third Team
Ruard van Renen
All-SEC Freshman Team
Kennedi Dobson
Sean Green
Hayden Meyers
Clarke Neace
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Swimming & Diving
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/ Swimming & Diving
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/ Men's Swimming & Diving
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