WOMEN’S WATER POLO COLLECTS ACADEMIC LAURELS (6/26)

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches recently released its 2009 Women’s Water Polo All-Academic Awards and five Washington & Jefferson College student-athletes were honored.  In addition, W&J finished the 2009 season with the second-best team grade-point average among all NCAA women’s water polo squads. 

The second-place finish in the team academic standings is the best in the program’s 10-year history.  Chapman scored the nation’s highest team GPA at 3.42 followed by W&J (3.36), Brown (3.35), Colorado College (3.31) and Macalester (3.28). 

Student-athletes were recognized in three levels: 3.20-3.40 grade point averages (Excellent), 3.41-3.70 (Superior) and 3.71-4.00 (Outstanding).

Junior Jessica Barby (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) led the Presidents’ five award winners on the outstanding level.  Two weeks ago, Barby became the 23rd student-athlete in W&J history to be named an Academic All-American. 

Washington & Jefferson’s all-time leading scorer, senior Alicia Sutton (Erie, Pa./McDowell) {above left}, and classmate Emily Allen (Menlo, Calif./Hillsborough) {above right}  both landed on the superior list.  Sutton, an ACWPC Second Team Division III All-American capped her standout career with 193 goals, 127 assists and 320 points.  Allen teamed with Sutton to provide one of the top scoring duos in school history.  Allen dropped in 30 goals in 2009 and added 23 assists. 

Sophomore Caitlin Brown (Milford, Ohio/Milford) and freshman Sarah Cull (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) both were selected to the excellent squad.  Brown is a two-year letter winner who totaled four points this past spring, while Cull developed into a reliable scoring threat with nine goals and seven assists. 

Under the direction of second-year Head Coach Vaughan Smith, the Presidents (11-14) set a school record for single-season victories in 2009 and placed sixth at the Collegiate III National Championships. 

-- PRESIDENTS --

JESSICA BARBY NAMED TO ESPN ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA TEAM (6/11)

Official CoSIDA Release

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College junior water polo standout Jessica Barby (Reading, Pa./Wilson) was selected to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Women’s At-Large Academic All-America Team on Thursday.  Barby earned third-team laurels and was one of 46 female student-athletes honored. 

The Women’s At-Large program for Academic All-America® includes the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.

Barby is only the 23rd student-athlete in Washington & Jefferson College history to earn the prestigious honor.  

Barby’s selection marks the third-straight season in which at least one W&J student-athlete has been named an Academic All-American.  In the last two years, the Presidents have had multiple Academic All-America award winners.

Barby was one of the leaders for the Washington & Jefferson women’s water polo team this spring.  A child development and education major, Barby enters her final year on campus with a 3.99 grade point average. 

Barby was the Presidents’ second-leading scorer this season with 31 goals and 36 assists for 67 points.  She was also third on the squad with 14 steals. 

Barby helped the Presidents win a school-record 11 games in 2009.  W&J earned its sixth invitation to the Collegiate III National Championships in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and the Presidents placed sixth of eight teams. 

On April 19th, Barby helped the Presidents claim fifth place at the CWPA Championships after her four-goal effort lifted the Presidents to a 7-6 win over Grove City.  She also had three goals during an 8-7 win over the Wolverines (May 2) at the national championship tournament.  In five matches at the national event, Barby totaled eight goals.  

As a sophomore, Barby collected 19 goals and nine assists.  

W&J boasts 10 student-athletes throughout history who have won the CoSIDA award twice, bringing the school’s all-time Academic All-America number to 33.  David Damico, a men’s basketball standout, was the Presidents’ first CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1978.  Last month, senior softball player Valerie Schultz (Washington, Pa./McGuffey) also earned the award. 

To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

-- PRESIDENTS --