UE Swimming and Diving Teams honored by CSCAA

Both teams were named Scholar All-America Teams

 

Five hundred and forty-seven swimming and diving teams representing 354 colleges and universities have been named College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Teams.  The awards are in recognition of teams’ that achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the 2015 Fall Semester. That is up 40 teams from the previous Fall Semester.

The University of Evansville teams each earned the honor with their stellar work in the classroom.  The Aces’ women paced the Missouri Valley Conference while ranking 25^th in the nation with a GPA of 3.50.  Just as impressive were the efforts of the men, who saw a great increase in their team GPA and finished 19^th in the country with a 3.29.

“In beginning of the year we talked about how each individual’s GPA made up the team’s overall GPA at the end of the semester. We used the example of a relay and how no one wants to be the person that causes a relay to lose,” Aces head coach Rickey Perkins said.  “They really took this example to heart and strived for individual success in the classroom so that the team’s academic success could be seen nationally.  I am very proud of the way this team has come together and how each one of them strived to be the very best student-athlete and teammate possible.”

The announcement comes on the heels of last week’s NCAA Convention.  There, the topic of time demands on student-athletes was at the forefront.  In an era where many are calling for more limitations on athletic commitments how do swimmers and divers do it?

CSCAA Executive Director Joel Shinofield was effusive in his praise, “We really are fortunate to work with the best of the best.  In reality, some would argue that swimmers and divers have some of the most demanding practice schedules, but we find that in most cases their athletic drive and academic goals simply reinforce one another.”

“College swimming is a complete preparation for life, where our athletes see the results of goal-setting, perseverance and personal accountability,” said USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch. “These values that make swimmers successful in the pool are also what make them stand out in the classroom and become high achievers in their careers after college.” This is evident in that over 70% of collegiate swimming and diving teams reported that they have at least one alumnus working in the c-suite.

Over 70% of all Division I swimming and diving teams achieved GPA’s of 3.00 or higher including 21 Women’s an