Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced its 2023-24 Men’s Swimming and Diving major awards, along with its all-conference rosters on Thursday. Colorado Mesa’s Ben Sampson three-peats as the league’s Swimmer of the Year. Isaiah Cheeks secured Diver of the Year honors for the third consecutive season, and Jameson McEnaney was named the RMAC Freshman of the Year. Colorado School of Mines’ Claire McDaniel notched the Men’s Coach of the Year nod. Coaches vote on these major awards and are not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes.
 
Sampson collects his third Swimmer of the Year honor after winning four national championships at the NCAA Division II National Championships meet. Additionally, the redshirt junior set two new meet and Division II records in his swims, hitting the wall with a 3:40.22 in the 400-yard individual medley and a 1:40.34 in the 200-yard backstroke. The Arvada, Colo., native also added seven RMAC All-Conference First Team nods to his stellar 2023-24 campaign that ended with the Mavs winning their sixth consecutive RMAC title and a fifth-place finish at the national meet.
 
Cheeks grabs his third Diver of the Year award in his final season at Colorado Mesa. The Maverick took Diver of the Meet honors at the RMAC Championships and followed that up with top-six finishes at the NCAAs, fifth in the 1-meter and sixth in the 3-meter. The redshirt senior wrapped up a decorated career in Grand Junction, claiming two RMAC First Team All-Conference finishes.
 
CMU’s McEnaney checks in as this year’s RMAC Freshman of the Year. The Charlotte, Vt., native had a debut season to remember, winning the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle at the RMAC Championship. McEnaney added a bronze medal in the 200-yard freestyle while adding two final RMAC All-Conference honors as part of the Mavs’ winning 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay squads. The freshman freestyler capped off an excellent first year, scoring points for CMU at the NCAA Championships with his tenth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle.
 
McDaniel earned the Coach of the Year distinction after guiding the Orediggers to a runner-up finish at the RMAC Championships. This is her third honor for the men’s team, having previously won in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. In five years at the helm, McDaniel has breathed new life into the program and has her swimmers competing at a high level. Three Mines’ male swimmers qualified for the NCAA meet in Ohio and scored points under McDaniel’s guidance.
 
As for the All-Conference teams, the Mavericks lead the way with 32 honorees, 22 of whom are on the First Team. Oklahoma Christian follows with 22 spots, while RMAC newcomer Simon Fraser garners 14 selections. Colorado School of Mines also grabbed 14 All-Conference finishes, while University of Texas Permian Basin rounded out the rosters with two diving nods.
 
The top two finishers in each event at the 2024 RMAC Swimming and Diving Championships receive First-Team All-Conference, while the third and fourth place finishers get second-team distinctions.
 
Men’s Swimmer of the Year: Ben Sampson, Colorado Mesa
Men’s Diver of the Year: Isaiah Cheeks, Colorado Mesa
Men’s Freshman of the Year: Jameson McEnaney, Colorado Mesa
Men’s Coach of the Year: Claire McDaniel, Colorado School of Mines