Daniel Yi has already put his name in many places on the walls inside the Smoky Hill High School swimming pool, but further space needs to be cleared.
The Buffaloes’ star — holder of multiple boys program records, both individual and relay — became the latest winner of the prestigious Hoyt Brawner Award, which is given annually to the state’s top senior swimmer/scholar/citizen.
Yi received the award in the midst of the annual Coaches Invitational meet March 16 at the Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center, and it fulfilled one of many visions he’s had for his final season of prep swimming.
“Every day at practice when I look up at the banners at the Smoky Hill pool, I always think of having my name up there,” Yi said. “To finally have my name up there (with this award), I feel so encouraged. I just want to go out and swim the best that I can for my team and for my coach.”
Yi has unquestionably done just that since he got to Smoky Hill as a freshman for the 2021 season.
The Buffaloes were 18th at the 2019 Class 5A state meet and, after the 2020 season was lost due to the coronavirus pandemic, shot up to 13th in 2021 as Yi made it to four championship finals at the state meet (two in relays and two individually).
Smoky Hill climbed to sixth in 2022 with help from Yi’s three championship finals appearances (plus a consolation final in the 200 yard individual medley) and moved up again to fifth last season with four more championship finals showings from Yi, who was the 5A runner-up in the 100 yard breaststroke.
In nearly three decades as coach at Smoky Hill, Scott Cohen has had a long lineage of Hoyt Brawner Award winners — 14 in all, seven boys and seven girls since 1998 — but in his nomination letter said Yi (a three-time team MVP, multiple-time NISCA All-American and now holder of seven program records) stands alone historically.
“Where we were before Daniel and where are now, a big reason is him,” Cohen said. “I’ve had a lot of winners, but he is as deserving as any one of them, ever. He and (2010 graduate) Caroline Piehl are in a class by themselves. I’m super happy for Daniel. It means more than winning an event (at state). We can put that up on the wall and keep it there forever or as long as I am around.”
Yi — who signed to swim at the University of Utah along with current Smoky Hill teammate Jake Baker — has several weeks left to accomplish more.
He came into the season as holder of Smoky Hill’s boys program record in the 200 IM (1 minute, 51.19 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (54.86 seconds), while he was on three relays teams (200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle) that hold program marks.
Two more became Yi’s on the same day he won the Hoyt Brawner award. In the Coaches Invitational prelims of the 50 freestyle, his time of 21.22 seconds vaulted him past the 21.37 of Alex Kohlman, and his split of 46.20 leading off the 400 freestyle relay set a team mark. The previous best was Shelby Clark’s 46.27 in 1999.
“I’m really hyped about what’s next,” Yi said. “I’ve been looking up at that state record board, and I also want to get up there.”
Most in jeopardy is the 100 breaststroke state mark of 53.73 set by Chatfield’s Joshua Corn, who did it last season as he finished just in front of Yi (who swam 54.86) to win the 5A state title.
Yi is a team captain for a potential-filled Smoky Hill team that finished third among 5A teams (behind two-time state champion Regis Jesuit and powerhouse Cherry Creek) at the Coaches Invitational and aims for a similar state result.
“Daniel is one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, and he’s like the most deserving guy I can think of to win it,” junior Ian Noffsinger said. “He’s what an athlete should be: a friend, a student and then the sport comes last. It’s really cool to see somebody I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for three years win that award.”
Yi’s love of swimming extends beyond his own competition, as he has served as an assistant for Cohen with the Pine Creek Heat neighborhood swim team, which features kids 4 to 10. It’s definitely a role he doesn’t take lightly in terms of building swimming for the future.
“I’m a part of a lot of summer leagues and club teams, so I get a lot of attention from little kids,” Yi said. “I try to set as good of an example as possible for them.”
A 3.7-plus Grade Point Average and very active role in Smoky Hill’s student government — with an emphasis on the school’s successful Wish Week program — rounds out Yi’s resume that earned him recognition from the state’s coaches. He joins Tylen Phillips (2018), Devin Bellamy (2016), Kohlman (2015), Kevin Ellis (2005), Clark (2000) and Mike Koss (1998) as male Hoyt Brawner winners from the Smoky Hill program.
Aurora’s other Hoyt Brawner finalist was Cherokee Trail’s Josh Woren. A four-year varsity letterman for the Cougars, Woren has a 4.68 weight GPA, ranks 11th in his class academically and is headed to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to swim and play water polo.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
