July 6, 2009

BALTIMORE, Md. -

The LMU swimming team recorded a 3.42 GPA during the spring semester, placing 23rd out of more than 190 Division I schools that participated last season in swimming and diving, it was announced on collegecoaches.org, the official website of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).  Rice, coached by Seth Huston, took the women’s crown with a 3.62 team grade point average, finishing in front of University of Cincinnati (3.57) and Gardner-Webb University at 3.55.

American University had a team GPA of 3.54 to claim the top men’s spot, with Lafayette College second at 3.45.  A total of 166 teams – 109 women’s and 57 men’s -- bettered the minimum team GPA requirement of 3.000.

The CSCAA also named its 2009 Scholar Athlete Awards.  Scholar All-Americans are selected on the basis of their performance in the pool and classroom.  To be selected to the All-American team, swimmers must qualify for the NCAA Championship meet and achieve a GPA of 3.50 or higher.  Honorable Mention selections must achieve a NCAA consideration time and 3.50 or higher GPA.  The University of Florida led the nation with nineteen Scholar All-Americans and sixteen Honorable Mention honorees.  Emory University placed seventeen swimmers on the first team while earning an additional nine honorable mentions while Kenyon College picked up fifteen selections and five honorable mentions.

The Lion swimming program, which is no stranger to academic recognition after placing in the top-25 of the CSCAA list last year, recently posted its second consecutive semester as LMU’s top program in terms of GPA, finishing the spring semester with a 3.42, highlighted by 14 of the 28 swimmers earning a 3.60 or better.  The Lions previously boasted a 3.47 mark in the fall semester.