Madalee Roberts Earns SSC Freshman of the Year Honors
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference has announced the 2026 women's swimming individual awards. Tampa's Madalee Roberts was named the Freshman of the Year, sponsored by Athletic Solutions. While NCAA Division II National Champions Kristina Orban and Ben Hewitt from Nova Southeastern earn Swimmer of the Year, sponsored by Athletic Solutions, and Coach of the Year honors, respectively.
League coaches vote on the SSC Swimmer, Freshman, and Coach of the Year awards following the NCAA Division II National Championship. All-SSC swimmers were selected earlier this season following the conference championship meet, which was held February 11-15 at Florida Aquatics Swimming Training in Ocala.
2026 SSC Women's Swimming All-Conference Awards
Roberts is honored as Freshman of the Year as Tampa claimed the SSC title and finished as the NCAA National Runner-Up. The Wyomissing, Pennsylvania native, capped the season with CSCAA First-Team All-America honors in the 100 Fly individually and in the 200/400 Free Relays and 200/400 Medley Relays. She added Second-Team All-American honors in 50 Free. Roberts becomes the fourth Spartan to be named Freshman of the Year, joining Lindsey Louder (2022-23), Erin Plachy (2011-12), and Heather Glenday (2010-11). It is the third time the Spartans have swept both Freshman of the Year awards in the same season.
SSC Records / Top Times | Women's Swimmers and Coaches of the Year
Orban takes SSC Swimmer of the Year accolades after being named CSCAA National Swimmer of the Year following a standout performance at the NCAA championship. The Swede won three individual titles and three relay titles at the national championship. Orban was at the top of the podium in 100 Fly, 100 Free, and 200 Free, and was a member of the record-setting 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay teams. Orban becomes the seventh Shark to be named Swimmer of the Year, joining Emily Trieschmann (2022-23, 2023-24), Celina Marquez (2021-22), Emma Sundstedt (2018-19), Courtney DeVeny (2017-18), Emma Wahlstrom (2016-17), and Erin Black (2011-12).
The senior was the highest point getter in the conference meet and the national championship. Orban won seven medals at both meets, 13 of which landed her at the top of the podium. The Shark set an SSC individual record for the 50 Free and contributed to three more SSC records in the 200 and 400 free relays as well as the 400-medley relay. Orban becomes the second Shark and just fourth overall swimmer to be named both the Freshman of the Year and Swimmer of the Year in league history. She joins the short list with Luna Mertins from Lynn, Emma Sundstedt of NSU, and Alli Crenshaw from Florida Southern. NSU won their fourth straight national title this season, making it back-to-back for Orban.
Hewitt wins his sixth straight SSC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year honor, earning the award for a league-leading eighth time2 after piloting the Sharks to a fourth consecutive national championship title. With Hewitt's guidance, the Shark swimmers won four individual and four relay national titles at the NCAA championship, broke three NCAA Division II records and set four new SSC meet records. Additionally, 12 NSU women won a combined 45 All-America honors.