Patriot League Swimming and Diving Academic Awards Introduced (2.26.26)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy junior Ben Irwin and Army West Point senior Molly Webber had been named the 2026 Patriot League Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athletes of the Year, respectively, when the League workplace introduced the honors on Thursday.

Irwin and Webber had been named to their respective 18-member Academic All-Patriot League Teams, comprised of different swimming and diving student-athletes from the Patriot League. Eight of the ten faculties had been represented on this yr’s Academic All-Patriot League males’s and girls’s groups, with Bucknell putting seven members on the 2 groups (4 ladies, three males), whereas Army West Point (4 ladies, two males), Loyola Maryland (4 males, two ladies) and Navy (three males, three ladies) every had six alternatives.

Navy’s Irwin was joined by teammates senior Gavin Green (arithmetic with economics, 3.93) and junior Ben Mauldin (physics, 3.43) on the Patriot League Men’s All-Academic Team. Army West Point seniors Joey Kling (mechanical engineering, 3.71) and Alex Zhang (engineering administration, 3.64), Boston University senior Tony Ponomarev (arithmetic and pc science, 3.73) and sophomore Charles Schreiner (enterprise administration and administration/Spanish minor, 3.80), Bucknell senior Braden Beagle (accounting, 3.88), senior Jack Krug (economics, 3.48) and junior James Lombardi (biology, 3.78), Colgate senior Matt Freund (neuroscience, 3.75) and sophomore Michael Granin (undeclared, 3.76), Holy Cross senior Jack Greiner (economics and non secular research, 3.58), Lehigh sophomore Jack Deppe (mechanical engineering, 3.31), Loyola Maryland sophomore Brennan Coyle (finance, 3.91), senior Joe Hayburn (data programs and knowledge analytics and finance, double main/advertising and marketing and innovation and entrepreneurship, minor, 4.0), junior Sam Hersick (pc science, 3.98) and junior Hans van Lierop (pc science, 3.98) rounded out the boys’s all-academic group alternatives.

On the ladies’s facet, Army West Point’s Webber was accompanied by sophomore teammates Jenn Hart (biology, 3.89), Angie McKane (programs engineering main, 3.51), and Cora Webber (legislation & authorized research, 3.93) on the Patriot League Women’s All-Academic Team. Boston University senior Haley Newman (English, English training, minor, 3.40), Bucknell senior Jennifer Bolden (enterprise analytics, 3.93), junior Sydney Dettmann (economics, 3.91), senior Kyla Kelly (neuroscience, 3.93) and sophomore Clara Renner (undecided, 3.80), Colgate senior Audrey Collins (political science & faith, 3.49) and junior MG King (classics, 4.00), Lehigh seniors Caitlin Deitch (mechanical engineering, 3.72) and Mairin Ludwig (worldwide relations, 3.81), Loyola Maryland juniors Riley Fried (English & political science, 3.96) and Haley Robinson (advertising and marketing, 3.93), Navy senior Sarah Eldridge (ocean & atmospheric sciences, 3.35), sophomore Allie Maloney (nuclear engineering, 3.98) and junior Erin Miller (chemistry, 3.86) accomplished the ladies’s all-academic group members.

To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete should have at the least a 3.20 cumulative grade level common and be a starter or key participant inside their sport. Freshmen or student-athletes of their first educational yr at their faculty should not eligible for the dignity.

The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for every sport contains the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Men’s and Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards given out throughout the summer season.

These honors acknowledge student-athletes who excel of their sport and the classroom. The awards are voted on by Patriot League males’s and girls’s swimming and diving sports activities data administrators, who should not eligible to vote for his or her student-athletes.

2026 Patriot League Men’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Ben Irwin, Navy, Jr., Buford, Ga./Buford

*Irwin holds a 3.74 GPA as he pursues his bachelor’s diploma in Operations Research on the United States Naval Academy.

*The junior is a two-time Academic All-Patriot League Team choice (2025) and a three-time First Team All-Patriot League honoree (2024-26).

*Irwin completed because the Midshipmen’s prime point-scorer on the 2026 Patriot League Championships with 91 factors, which was second general.

*He received the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard backstroke, to go together with a third-place end within the 100-yard backstroke.

*Additionally, he guided Navy to the 200-yard medley relay title, whereas swimming on the second-place 400-yard medley relay squad.

*The 2024 Patriot League Rookie of the Year certified for this yr’s NCAA Championships in two particular person occasions.

*The Buford, Ga. native is a two-time CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-America choice and was honored on the USNA’s Superintendent’s List as soon as.

2026 Patriot League Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Molly Webber, Army West Point, Sr., Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown

*Webber maintains a 3.87 GPA as she pursues her bachelor’s diploma in Computer Science on the United States Military Academy.

*The senior is a three-time Academic All-Patriot League Team choice (2024-26) and earned First Team All-Patriot League honors 4 instances.

*Webber captured seven gold medals at this yr’s Patriot League Championships and completed because the Women’s Highest Point Scorer for the third time in her profession, alongside teammate Angie McKane with 96 factors.

*The Morris Plains, N.J. native was the primary lady in League historical past to four-peat within the 500-yard freestyle and three-peat within the 200-yard freestyle.

*Additionally, Webber helped Army West Point sweep the relay occasions, whereas additionally changing into the primary Black Knight lady to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

2026 Patriot League Men’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ben Irwin, Navy, Jr.

2026 Patriot League Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Molly Webber, Army West Point, Sr.

2026 Women’s Swimming and Diving Academic All-Patriot League Team

Jenna Hart, Army West Point, So.

Angie McKane, Army West Point, So.

Cora Webber, Army West Point, So.

Molly Webber, Army West Point, Sr.

Haley Newman, Boston University, Sr.

Jennifer Bolden, Bucknell, Sr.

Sydney Dettmann, Bucknell, Jr.

Kyla Kelly, Bucknell, Sr.

Clara Renner, Bucknell, So.

Audrey Collins, Colgate, Sr.

MG King, Colgate, Jr.

Caitlin Deitch, Lehigh, Sr.

Mairin Ludwig, Lehigh, Sr.

Riley Fried, Loyola Maryland, Jr.

Haley Robinson, Loyola Maryland, Jr.

Sarah Eldridge, Navy, Sr.

Allie Maloney, Navy, So.

Erin Miller, Navy, Jr.

2026 Men’s Swimming and Diving Academic All-Patriot League Team

Joey Kling, Army West Point. Jr.

Alex Zhang, Army West Point, Sr.

Tony Ponomarev, Boston University, Sr.

Charles Schreiner, Boston University, So.

Braden Beagle, Bucknell, Sr.

Jack Krug, Bucknell, Sr.

James Lombardi, Bucknell, Jr.

Matt Freund, Colgate, Sr.

Michael Granin, Colgate, So.

Jack Greiner, Holy Cross, Sr.

Jack Deppe, Lehigh, So.

Brennan Coyle, Loyola Maryland, So.

Joe Hayburn, Loyola Maryland, Sr.

Sam Hersick, Loyola Maryland, Jr.

Hans van Lierop, Loyola Maryland, Jr.

Gavin Green, Navy, Sr.

Ben Irwin, Navy, Jr.

Ben Mauldin, Navy, Jr.

ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE

The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of educational and athletic achievement, frequently demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at each lecturers and athletics with out sacrificing excessive requirements. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved whereas its member establishments stay dedicated to its founding precept of admitting and graduating student-athletes who’re academically consultant of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League establishments is considered as an essential part of a well-rounded training.