NORFOLK, Va. – The Gustavus men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams both received recognition from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) as Scholar All-America Teams. The awards are in recognition of teams that achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the 2016 Fall Semester. The Gustie men achieved a 3.22 team GPA during the Fall Semester, while the women posted a 3.15 GPA – both marks that rank third among Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams.
A record 638 teams, representing 394 institutions have been named CSCAA Scholar All-America Teams. Ninety-one additional teams and 36 more institutions achieved the honor compared to a year ago. Part of the reason for the increase in award-winning teams is the overall growth of the sport. The number of men’s and women’s institutions sponsoring swimming and diving is at a 10-year high. The sport is also enjoying a bump in participation that has traditionally followed Olympic years.
CSCAA Executive Director Joel Shinofield feels much of the credit, however, goes to the coaches. “Our coaches understand that the essence of intercollegiate athletics is the experience each student-athlete receives, and an emphasis on academics reflects what coaches feel is most important.”
Shinofield was quick to point out, however, that good grades were not at the expense of athletic excellence. “College swimming and diving has never been more competitive, and yet over 80 percent of our Division I member teams and nearly 80 percent of all teams in the Top 25 are also Scholar All-America teams.”
In total 73 percent of all CSCAA member programs posted GPAs above 3.00. Among Division III programs, Vassar College (3.59) and MIT (3.72) led the men’s and women’s rankings, respectively.
Founded in 1922, the CSCAA – the oldest organization of college coaches in America – is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming & diving at the collegiate level.