Swimming tabbed a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team
July 29, 2013
Chris Brooks
907-474-6805
Once again this semester, the Alaska women's swim team has been named to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II Scholar All-America Team, the CSCAA announced Wednesday.
After holding a 3.07 grade-point average during the fall term, the program had the biggest jump among all of Alaska's 10 varsity sports, turning in a 3.58 team GPA, which was the fifth-highest average among all Division II programs in America.
"I was really pleased with how our swimmers performed both in the pool and in the the classroom last semester," head coach Scott Lemley said. "With our best team GPA ever and the biggest improvement from the fall to the spring of any sport at Alaska, we're showing everyone just how serious we are. I commend our girls for their efforts."
Alaska was one of four Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference named to the Division II squad. The Nanooks, who had the highest average in the conference, were joined on the list were Cal Baptist (3.5), UC San Diego (3.32) and Cal State East Bay (3.05).
Individually, sophomore Danielle Lyons (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan/Biological sciences) and senior Sarah Meierotto (Fairbanks, Alaska/Biological sciences) were also recognized as Honorable Mention selections on the CSCAA Individual Scholar All-America Team.
Lyons, a 3.93 student majoring in Biological sciences, was named to the Capital One Academic All-District® Division II At-Large Team back in May. She surpassed the NCAA B-cut standard in the 100 and 200 freestyle events this past season and was All-PCSC in the 400 and 800 free relays as well as the 400 individual medley at the 2013 conference championship. She was also a member of the 400 medley relay that set the varsity record this past year. In her rookie year, she qualified for the NCAA Championship and was a three-time All-American as a member of Alaska's relay tandems. She was also named a Great Northwest Athletic Conference FAR Scholar-Athlete last summer. Despite her battle with mono and pneumonia for much of her sophomore season, she still managed to win nine events during dual meets.
Meierotto graduated back in May with a degree in biological sciences after compiling a 3.80 GPA. She was a member of Alaska's fourth-place 400 medley relay team that achieved an NCAA B-cut time at the PCSC Championship in February while also being part of the 19th-place 200 medley tandem at conference. During the dual-meet season, she placed second twice in relays and was third in three other relay events. Like Lyons, Meierotto was also honored as a GNAC FAR Scholar-Athlete last year.
In all, 13 PCSC swimmers were tabbed to the First Team while eight others were on the Honorable Mention list.
To be considered for the award, teams must achieve at least a 3.0 GPA in a single semester. It is presented twice annually, once in the fall semester and once during the championship season for the spring semester.
For individuals to receive Scholar All-America honors, they must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. First Team members had a 3.5 or better and qualified for the NCAA Championship while Honorable Mention selections had a 3.5 or better and achieved an NCAA B-cut but did not compete at the national meet. The individual award is presented once a year, following the spring term.
About the CSCAA: Founded in 1922, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America is the oldest professional organization of college coaches in America. The CSCAA is dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming and diving at the collegiate level.
For more information, contact Chris Brooks at cpbrooks@alaska.edu.