Niewold Highlights Alabama on SEC Postseason Awards
4/15/2026 10:40:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Sean Niewold was named the conference’s Co-Newcomer Swimmer of the Year for his performance during the season as seven swimmers were named to All-SEC teams
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama's Sean Niewold was named the Southeastern Conference Newcomer of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday.
Niewold is the first athlete in program history to earn the award, which was created in 2025. In addition to the Rotterdam, Netherlands, native, Alabama had seven athletes earn All-SEC team honors in second-team selections Tessa Giele, Emily Jones, Charlotte Rosendale, Jada Scott and Cadence Vincent, and third-team honorees Tommy Hagar and Gaby Van Brunt.
Sean Niewold, SEC Newcomer of the Year
- Concluded his first collegiate year as a two-time All-American in the 50 free and 200 medley relay
- First UA athlete to break the 45-second mark in the 100 butterfly
- Dropped 0.28 off his entry time at the NCAA Championships to move from the 31st seed to 19th in the 100 freestyle
- Four-time A finalist at SECs, earning a spot in the top eight in the 100 butterfly, 400 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay
- In addition to his 100 fly school record, he ranks second all-time in the 50 free (18.73) and fourth in 100 free (41.65)
All-SEC Honorees
- Four individuals earned podium finishes as Emily Jones claimed a silver medal in the 100 backstroke to earn Second Team All-SEC
- Tessa Giele (100 butterfly), Cadence Vincent (100 free) and Jones (200 back) secured bronze-medal finishes but were named to the conference's second team for other events
- Additionally, Tommy Hagar notched a third-place finish in the 200 back to earn third-team honors
- Four of Alabama's five women's relay teams captured podium finishes as the Tide's 200 medley relay team of Jones, Scott, Giele and Vincent, as well as the UA's 200 free relay team of Vincent, Jones, Giele and Rosendale captured silver medals at the conference meet
- The 400 medley relay team of Jones, Rosendale, Giele and Vincent and the 400 free relay team of Vincent, Rosendale, Jones and Gaby Van Brunt finished third at SECs
Players Mentioned
