Swimming and diving lands 17 Academic All-Big 12 honors
Big 12 List: Swimming & Diving Academic All-Big 12 Teams (.pdf)
IRVING, Texas – Kansas swimming and diving’s hard work in the pool had led to another successful season, but the team’s hard work in the classroom is now also showing with 17 Academic All-Big 12 honorees, including a conference-high 15 first teamers.
First team honorees include Hannah Angell, Hannah Driscoll, Nika Fellows, Madison Hutchison, Nadia Khechfe, Yulduz Kuchkarova, Lindsay Manning, Amanda Maser, Leah Pfitzer, Cassaundra Pino, Gretchen Pocisk, Sammie Schurig, Taylor Sieperda, Madison Straight and Libby Walker. Haley Bishop and Lydia Pocisk landed second team nods for the Jayhawks.
A total of 109 swimming and diving student-athletes were recognized for their academic success from around the league. Seventy-three women were named from the five squads. All-Big 12 First Team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
In January, Kansas was recognized by the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as one of 638 Scholar All-America teams, marking 29-straight semesters honored under head coach Clark Campbell. Last fall Kansas accumulated an overall GPA of 3.38.
“(The All-America Team honor) is always a team goal and a focal point of our program,” Campbell said in January. “We’re really excited about how we did in the fall. Freshmen can take time to get going, but this group stepped up in the pool and the classroom. A lot of credit goes to Laura Jacobsen, our academic advisor. She focuses on keeping the expectations high and the team responds well.”
The announcements come the day before the Jayhawks are set to begin competition at the 2017 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championship, where the team hopes to improve on its program-best 650.5 points and second place finish last season. The meet is held at the Texas’ Jamail Swimming Center and will begin Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 2:30 p.m. and continues through Saturday, Feb. 25.
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
