With strong performances in both the classroom and on the diving board, Abigail Wilkov emulates the true essence of what it means to be a student-athlete. A recent Case Western Reserve University graduate who competed on the women’s swimming and diving team, Wilkov posted a 4.0 GPA while majoring in neuroscience and secured two second-place finishes at the women’s swimming and diving national championships earlier this year.
For her remarkable accomplishments, she was named the third Spartan ever to be named the College Sports Communicators Division III Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for her sport. Wilkov joins Hannah Kassaie (women’s tennis, 2023) and Jim Fox (men’s basketball, 1997) in receiving this prestigious honor.
When asked the key to her success, Wilkov credits time management and discipline. Head Coach Doug Milliken witnessed Wilkov leverage those skills as she worked to meet the demands of her training schedule and academic commitments.
“We’ve known for a while that she was very talented … it was expected that [she] was going to keep getting better every year. But then you couple that with the academics,” said Milliken. “Abby’s accomplishments in many ways speak for themselves.”
A graduate of nearby Solon High School, Wilkov’s primary focus when selecting a college was academics. But she also wasn’t done diving. Case Western Reserve offered her the best balance to continue her athletic career while receiving a rigorous education.
Wilkov went on to become the most decorated diver in CWRU history, including as a seven-time All-America honoree and winner of the Elite 90 Award at the 2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. At the 2025 national championships, she placed second in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dive events.
“This past season was definitely way better than I could have ever imagined. If you told me, coming in as a freshman, that I was going to come in second place on not only one board, but both by my senior year, I honestly probably would have laughed in your face,” Wilkov admitted. “I could have never imagined such an amazing outcome. And I’ve had just the most amazing time with the best teammates, the best team, best coaches that have all helped to make that possible.”
Milliken and the rest of the coaching staff knew there was something special about Wilkov from the start, but part of the challenge was getting her to recognize it in herself. He said Wilkov often sold herself short, but she grew over her four years on campus, overcoming injuries and emerging as a leader as president of the CWRU Association of Student-Athletes.
“It was really special for her to win this award, and she’s very deserving of it,” said Milliken. “To see other people see that as well just makes it all worthwhile. And it’s like, yeah, darn right. She deserves this right because I’ve known it. The other coaches have known it. Now, the world of swimming and diving knows it too.”