(Tennessee Athletics) -- As the 2009 Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships wrapped up Saturday evening, conference officials announced the athletes of the year. Among the names read were Tennessee’s freshman-sensation diver Ryan Helms.

“I am very pleased for Ryan,” UT diving coach Dave Parrington said, “he was more than deserving based on his performance at the championships and throughout the season.”

At the championships, Helms finished fourth (371.50) on the one-meter in a field of seasoned upperclassmen divers. On the three-meter he broke the 400 mark for the only the second time this season placing fifth (404.40).

He currently ranks third in the one-meter all-time at UT with his 371.90 performance at the Tennessee Diving Invitational and third on the three-meter list with his 425.45 score from the U.S. World Championships Selection?Camp.

Helms earned nine wins on the season. He swept both the one- and three-meter against dual-meet opponents Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia and Georgia and picked up a three-meter win against Indiana.

His arrival in Knoxville was a shot in the arm for the Vols’ resurging diving program. The last UT diver to earn these honors was NCAA champion and Olympian Jevon Tarinitino in 2004.