Swimming and diving sees 14 Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors
IRVING, Texas – The Kansas swimming and diving team reaches the end of their season with impressive strides in the pool as well as in the classroom with 14 Academic All-Big 12 First Team honorees, announced the conference Tuesday afternoon.
First team honorees include: Elizabeth Amato-Hanner, Haley Bishop, Crissie Blomquist, Peri Charapich, Haley Downey, Ellie Flanagan, Manon Manning, Jenny Nusbaum, Cassaundra Pino, Katy Schlies, Caroline Schultz, Taylor Sieperda, Carly Straight and Libby Walker. Downey was one of six total in the league to be nominated with a 4.0 grade-point average (GPA).
“We are very happy for our Academic All-Big Team honorees,” head coach Clark Campbell said. “They have worked hard in the classroom and pool all year. The conference recognition is tribute to the effort invested.”
A total of 129 swimming and diving student-athletes were recognized for their academic success from around the league. Eighty-six women were named from the five squads.
Academic 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, the Kansas team received major honors after many hard-working hours. The team was recognized as the third-best Scholar All-America Team in all of the Division I women’s programs for the Fall 2018, selected by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American committee.
In addition to the CSCAA honor, the team was recognized by the University of Kansas when it broke the all-time athletics department GPA record and set it at a 3.70 from the fall semester, with eight 4.0 swimming and diving student-athletes.
The team looks to continue success as Kansas will begin the journey to Austin, Texas for the Big 12 Championship inside the Jamail Swimming Center, which will start Wednesday, Feb. 27 and continue through Saturday, March 2.
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