Sophie Verzyl Named Finalist for 2026 Honda Sport Award for Swimming & Diving – University of South Carolina Athletics

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Senior diver Sophie Verzyl has been named a finalist for the 2026 Honda Sport Award for Swimming and Diving, introduced right now by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

Other finalists for the award are Stanford swimmers Lucy Bell and Torri Huske and Virginia swimmer Claire Curzan.

Verzyl captured her first nationwide title within the 3-meter dive on the 2026 NCAA Championships, marking the primary nationwide title within the occasion in program historical past. She paired the victory with a second-place end within the 1-meter. Verzyl is now a four-time All-American, having earned second-team All-America honors in each occasions final season.

The Columbia, S.C. native swept the springboard occasions on the 2026 SEC Championships, defending her title within the 3-meter. She was additionally named the SEC Diver of the Meet. Throughout the season, Verzyl has collected 13 occasion wins and 5 SEC Diver of the Week honors. She set a brand new program file within the 1-meter dive and holds the pool file in the identical occasion on the Allen Jones Aquatic Center (University of Tennessee).

MORE ON THE HONDA SPORT AWARD AND CWSA

The Honda Sport Award has been introduced yearly by the CWSA for the previous 50 years, recognizing the highest ladies athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports activities and symbolizing “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The recipient of the game award will develop into a finalist for the distinguished Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2026 Honda Cup, to be introduced reside on Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

The swimming & diving finalists had been chosen by a panel of consultants and coaches from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The Honda Sport award winner for swimming & diving will probably be introduced after voting by directors from over 1,000 NCAA member colleges. Each NCAA member establishment has a vote.

The CWSA, in its fiftieth 12 months, has honored the nation’s prime NCAA ladies athletes for his or her superior athletic expertise, management, tutorial excellence, and eagerness to take part in group service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has offered greater than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the schools of the award winners and nominees to help ladies’s athletics packages.