Jayhawks Post Another Successful Semester in the Classroom

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Throughout his 14-year tenure at the University of Kansas, head swimming and diving coach Clark Campbell has always expected greatness out of each and every one of his student-athletes. The results of these expectations aren’t just evident in the pool, but the Jayhawks have found continuous success in the classroom as well. The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced Wednesday morning that Kansas has again earned Scholar All-America recognition for the 2015 fall semester.
 
When the team isn’t in the pool endlessly chasing the black line, they can most likely be found with their heads in the books. Since Campbell first arrived on campus his teams have earned CSCAA Scholar All-America honors in each of his 27 semesters. Last fall Kansas accumulated an overall GPA of 3.23, with the team averaging a 3.14 GPA over the years. 
 
“It’s really a tribute to the team,” Campbell said. “We are truly student-athletes and student always comes first. As coaches and as upper classmen, we place a lot of importance on academics so the younger ones, the freshmen, integrate really fast and realize grades are really important. We state it as a goal and hold each other accountable for it, but I think on a daily basis Laura Jacobsen, our swimming and diving academic advisor, is the one who is really getting them into situations where they can be successful. Whether it be in their major or within their tutoring and study habits, that’s what is helping make sure that we are successful not only in the pool, but in the classroom.”
 
KU was among 547 other swimming and diving squads to be recognized for their success and according to CSCAA statistics, more than 70 percent of Division I teams achieved GPA’s of 3.0 or higher last semester.
 
“We’re getting it done, that’s the bottom line,” Campbell said on the academic success of swimming and diving squads. “There is no NFL or NBA for swimming –
this is it. We have to go pro in something else other than our sport, so the student- athletes that make up swimming and diving are very goal oriented, very high achieving and they want to be successful in everything they do. They know what’s important and they know how they do academically plays a huge role in what will be in store for them once they are done with this part of their life.”
 
To be selected to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, squads must achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or higher concluding the semester.
 
Kansas will return to Robinson Natatorium this Saturday, Jan. 30 for its final home contest of the year. The meet will feature Nebraska-Omaha and will be televised live on the Jayhawk Television Network throughout the state of Kansas and ESPN3 outside the state lines. The meet begins at 10 a.m. and has free admission.
 
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