The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) announced the winners of the 2026 men's and women's swimming and diving Athletes of the Year awards on Friday, with Franklin junior Celeste Hollis (Granger, Ind.) earning recognition on the women's side.
 
The award looks at a swimmer or diver's entire body of work over the course of a season, including any postseason appearances. Hollis took home the honor for the second year in a row, as she was named Co-Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 season along with teammate Kat Lundy.

Hollis was one of only two HCAC swimmers to qualify for the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. She competed in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and 200 butterfly, placing 18th in the 100 fly. Her performance at the HCAC Championships saw her claiming two individual gold medals (100 butterfly and 200 butterfly), plus four additional titles as part of Franklin's 200 freestyle, 200 medley, 400 medley, and 400 freestyle relay teams. Her 100 fly time of 55.25 was also a meet and open record in the HCAC.

Hollis left her mark in the Franklin record books, setting new records in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 50 free this season while also teaming with Lundy, Avery Tomlinson and Petal Sloan to break the school mark in the 400 medley relay.