By COURTLIN HAYGARTH | HSU Sports Network

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After his historic run at the 2023 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving National Championships that saw him win three individual NCAA titles, Lamar Taylor was named the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Male Swimmer of the Year.

With his performance in Indianapolis, Taylor, a junior from Freeport, Bahamas, helped the Red Wave men secure their best finish since 2007 of ninth place nationally with a program-record 200 points.

On the first full day of competition, the Bahamian became HSU’s first individual NCAA National Champion since 2010 and just its fourth of the NCAA era by winning the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 19.04. Taylor currently owns every single Top-5 time in the 50 free in program history.

The Red Wave champion was just getting started as he won his second title in the 100-yard backstroke two days later with a time of 45.95, becoming just the second Red Wave swimmer to ever win multiple NCAA titles.

Taylor finished off his historic week with a third national championship, becoming the first Division II swimmer to win three individual national titles at one event since 2021. The Freeport, Bahamas, product took top honors in the 100 free with a time of 42.30. 

In addition to the three national championships, Taylor closed out the week as a six-time All-American with his three Top-8 finishes in the Henderson men’s relay events. For the 2022-23 season, Taylor was also named the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference Swimmer of the Month for October.

With the 2022-23 season in the books, Taylor will begin training for the Bahamian National Meet later this summer as he continues to strive to join the Bahamian National Team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.