MADISON, Wis. -- The Big Ten Conference office announced on Wednesday the 2016 Rowing individual award winners, as chosen by the conference coaches. Among those honored are Wisconsin women's rowing head coach Bebe Bryans, who is Big Ten Coach of the Year, and freshman Alicia Evans, who is Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year.
 
Evans (Portland, Oregon) became the third Badger named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, joining Mollie Kryka (2010) and Sarah Wrenshall (2006) as an honoree. Evans has been the stroke of Wisconsin's unbeaten novice eight. The Badgers claimed the Big Ten title in the novice eight at last weekend's regatta in Indianapolis.

Evans shared the Freshman of the Year award with Michigan freshman Meghan Gutknecht.

Bryans takes home Big Ten Coach of the Year laurels for the second time at Wisconsin and for the fourth time in her career. Bryans directed the Badgers to a second-place finish at last weekend's Big Ten championships as all seven crews earned top-three finishes, including titles in the novice eight and second novice eight races.
 
Bryans helped Wisconsin earn its ninth straight bid to the NCAA championships and the team's 11th in 12 seasons under her tutelage.

The complete list of individual award winners can be found below.
 
The No. 10 Badgers next compete May 27-29 at the 2016 NCAA Rowing Championships. The event takes place on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California.
 
Co-Freshmen of the Year
Alicia Evans, Wisconsin
Meghan Gutknecht, Michigan
 
Coach of the Year
Bebe Bryans, Wisconsin
 
Athlete of the Year
Rebecca Brougher, Indiana