Rock Hill, S.C. --- Catawba College junior Maks Minichowski and senior Marit Reckmann have been voted the 2026 South Atlantic Conference Men's and Women's Swimming Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the league office announced Thursday morning.

The SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the conference's championship sports and is voted on by the SAC Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service, and leadership.

Minichowski has excelled both in the classroom and in the pool. He carries a 3.889 GPA while majoring in Sustainable Planning & Leadership, earning consistent recognition on the Catawba College Dean's List. In addition, he has been named a CSCAA Scholar All-American and earned CSC Second Team Academic All-American along with All-District honors.

Minichowski continued his success at the 2026 SAC Championships, claiming four titles and helping lead Catawba to a runner-up finish in the team standings.

In competition, Minichowski has established himself as one of the top swimmers in NCAA Division II. A six-time All-American in 2026, he placed fourth in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2026 NCAA Championships to earn First Team All-America honors for the second consecutive year in the event, while adding an eighth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (53.40) and an 11th-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (19.77) to earn additional All-America honors.

Reckmann, a senior for the Catawba women's swimming program, has been equally impressive in the classroom and in competition. She holds a perfect 4.00 GPA while majoring in Biology and Chemistry, earning recognition as a Presidential Scholar and consistent Dean's List honoree, while also being a member of multiple honor societies.

In the pool, Reckmann has been one of the most accomplished swimmers in the SAC, serving as a school record holder and the fastest woman in the conference in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle events. She captured four SAC titles at the 2026 SAC Championships (50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay).

She has been a standout at the national level as well, earning seven All-America honors in 2026, including four First Team accolades in the 100 freestyle and as part of the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays, along with Second Team honors in the 50 freestyle and 200 and 400 medley relays. She was also named the NCAA Division II Elite Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the first in Catawba Athletics history, and helped lead Catawba to a ninth-place team finish, the highest of any SAC program and the best finish in program history.

Beyond academics and athletics, both student-athletes have demonstrated strong commitments to leadership and service. Minichowski has completed approximately 50 hours of volunteer service annually, while Reckmann has recorded over 100 hours of service and held multiple leadership roles, including team captain and president of the International Student Club.

Reckmann earns SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors for the second time in her career (2024).

Minichowski and Reckmann's combined excellence in academics, athletics, and service make them deserving recipients of the 2026 SAC Swimming Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.


2026 Men's Swimming Scholar-Athlete Finalists
Carson Cochrane, Lenoir-Rhyne
 Maks Minichowski, Catawba - Winner
 Ney Chagas Filho, Wingate

2026 Women's Swimming Scholar-Athlete of the Year Finalists
Ella Penny, Lenoir-Rhyne
 Emma Bowling, Carson-Newman
 Franziska Muhlberger, Wingate
 Marit Reckmann, Catawba - Winner