NORFOLK, Va. – The Illinois State swimming and diving team was named a 2015 College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Spring Scholar All-American Team, while three of its members earned CSCAA Scholar All-American status, the organization announced Tuesday.
Illinois State ranked among the top Division I squads in terms of grade-point average (GPA) this spring, turning in a team mark of 3.53 to earn the recognition. The Redbirds were one of 162 Division I squads to earn the honor, and were tied for 24th in the team rankings.
Team Scholar All-America honors are presented twice annually to college and university swimming and diving teams achieving a team GPA of 3.0 or higher during a given semester.
Graduating seniors Wenting Zhang and Marissa Yontz, and rising junior Molly Schatz, also earned individual academic honors from the CSCAA. Zhang earned CSCAA Scholar All-America honors by achieving a 3.50 or higher GPA and competing at the NCAA Championships. Yontz and Schatz were Scholar All-America Honorable Mention selections, after registering GPAs of 3.50 or higher and meeting NCAA 'B' qualifying standards in their respective events.
The Redbirds' 3.53 GPA was boosted by 10 members of the swimming and diving team that earned perfect 4.0 GPAs this spring: Erica Halley, Valerie Jones, Maggie Kopp, Laura Paskoff, Rachel Root, Samantha Schuckles, Courtney Taylor, Kristin Verkler, Schatz and Yontz.
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