Abigail Knapton, Diving (First Team, At-Large, 2021)
Abigail Knapton capped a history-making Husker career by becoming the first women's swimmer or diver at Nebraska to capture All-America honors both in competition and in the classroom. A six-time All-American in the diving well, Knapton claimed first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades in the at-large category in 2021. Knapton, who posted a 3.93 GPA as a psychology major over her five-year Husker career, was a four-time first-time All-American on the platform. She was the first Husker swimmer or diver in history to capture first-team All-America honors four times in the same event.
As a fifth-year senior in 2021, Knapton was named the Big Ten Diver of the Meet after winning conference championships on both the platform and the one-meter springboard. She added first-team All-America honors in both the platform and three-meter competitions at the 2021 NCAA Championships, before becoming the only female diver to finish in the top eight in both the platform and three-meter events at the U.S. Diving Team Trials in Indianapolis in June of 2021. Knapton was also the Big Ten runner-up on the three-meter board in 2021 and was an honorable-mention All-American in the event in 2019.
Knapton's huge senior season and distinguished career both in competition and the classroom led her to recognition as both Nebraska's Female Student-Athlete of the Year and Nebraska's Best Female Athlete across all sports in 2021. She also earned a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship following her graduation from Nebraska in May of 2021.
The graduate of Omaha Marian High School was a four-time CSCAA Scholastic All-American (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021), a four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021). She was a 10-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll selection and a five-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.
Knapton was one of seven Husker student-athletes across all sports to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2021, joining Kevin Cahoy, Luke Siedhoff and George Kusche (men's track and field), Andy Jacobs (women's track and field), Lexi Sun (volleyball) and Kobe Webster (men's basketball) in increasing Nebraska's NCAA Division I-leading total to 347 all time across all sports.
Lindsay Helferich, Freestyle (Second Team, At-Large, 2019)
Lindsay Helferich etched her name in Husker history by becoming Nebraska’s third swimming and diving CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2019. Helferich claimed second-team honors in the at-large category following her senior season by posting a perfect 4.0 GPA during her career.
Helferich, a freestyle and backstroke specialist, joined Kaitlin Arntz (2010) and Courtney Jensen (2000) as Husker swimming and diving CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.
Helferich was one of five Husker student-athletes across all sports in 2018-19 to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, joining Anton Stephenson (men’s gymnastics), Angela Mercurio (women’s track and field), Kevin Cahoy (men’s track and field) and Marina Cozac (women’s tennis). Helferich was one of nine Huskers to be named a Nebraska Outstanding Scholar. She added a 1A FAR Academic Excellence Award and was recognized for the third time as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
She also excelled in competition, finishing 26th in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2019 Big Ten Championships. Helferich posted her top career Big Ten finish by taking 21st in the 100 backstroke in 2018, while adding 27th-place showings in the 50 and 100 freestyles the same year. As a freshman in 2016, she took 24th in the 200 back at the conference meet.
Before coming to Nebraska, Helferich was a top-16 finalist in the 200 back and a top-24 finalist in the 200 free at the Southern Zone Sectional Championships. She was also the valedictorian of her class at Odessa High School in Texas.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Nebraska in May of 2019 as a civil engineering major. She was a three-time academic All-Big Ten choice and earned eight spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. She was also a four-time Tom Osborne Citizenship Team member.career.
Kaitlin Arntz, Swimming, (Third Team, At-Large, 2010)
Kaitlin Arntz earned her place among Nebraska's NCAA Division I-leading total of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans by capturing third-team honors in the at-large category following her senior season for the Huskers in 2010.
Arntz was one of Nebraska's top breaststroke and individual medley swimmers during her time in Lincoln. She capped her outstanding career by becoming the first CoSIDA Academic All-America women's swimmer in school history.
Arntz capped her competitive career with a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke at the 2010 Big 12 Championships. She added a fourth-place performance in the 100 breast and a sixth-place showing in the 200 IM. Arntz finished fifth in the 200-yard breaststroke and 11th in the 200 IM at the 2009 Big 12 Championships. She was Nebraska's team MVP as a junior. As both a freshman and sophomore, Arntz finished eighth in the 200 breast and 10th in the 100 breast at the Big 12 Championships.
A high school standout in the Omaha area, Arntz was a 16-time All-American at Millard West and a five-time Nebraska state champion. She closed her high school career holding seven state records.
An advertising major at Nebraska, Arntz posted a 3.94 cumulative GPA. Also a CoSIDA Academic All-District VII selection, she was an honorable-mention CSCAA Scholar All-American in 2010. She was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2008, 2009, 2010).
Courtney Jensen, Diving, (First Team, At-Large, 2000)
Courtney Jensen capped an outstanding academic and athletic career as a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America selection in the at-large category as a senior in 2000.
Jensen, a Husker co-captain and four-year letterwinner from Sheridan, Wyo., was a leader for Nebraska in the diving well throughout her career. As a senior, Jensen produced a career-best 11th-place finish on the three-meter board at the 2000 Big 12 Conference Championships. She added a 17th-place performance in the one-meter dive.
As a junior, Jensen took 13th on the three-meter board at the 1999 Big 12 Championships, while adding a 23rd-place finish in the one-meter event. Those performances followed a sophomore season in which she placed 21st on the three-meter and 22nd on the one-meter at the 1998 Big 12 Championships. She opened her Husker career with 13th-place finishes on both the one- and three-meter boards as a freshman at the 1997 Big 12 meet.
A high school All-American both in competition and in the classroom, Jensen was a two-time Wyoming state champion at Sheridan High School.
An elementary education major at Nebraska, Jensen was nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-America At-Large team with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She claimed first-team CoSIDA All-District VII honors to advance to the national ballot and become Nebraska’s first female swimming and diving CoSIDA Academic All-American.