W&J Squads Honored Nationally by CSCAA For Academics
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were both honored Thursday as NCAA Division III Scholar All-America Teams for the 2010-11 academic year by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. The Team Scholar All America award is presented to college and university swimming and diving teams, who achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher. The award is presented to teams achieving this standard in the fall semester and in the semester of the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships (winter/spring).
The W&J men compiled a 3.10 team GPA and were one of 57 teams to earn the national distinction. The Presidents posted a 7-4-1 record this past winter and recorded a third-place finish at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship meet.
The Presidents’ women produced a 3.13 team grade-point average and earned one of 93 spots on the Scholar All-America Team. W&J took second place at the PAC Championships after racking up a perfect 13-0 record during the dual-meet season. The Presidents became just the third team in the 34-year history of the sport at the college to notch an unblemished record.
In addition to the team’s success, rising senior Bethany Haver (Akron, Ohio/Harvey S. Firestone) earned two NCAA Division III All-America awards after placing fifth (3-meters) and seventh (1-meter) at the national diving championships in March. She was the first woman in history to represent W&J and the PAC in the diving competition at the NCAA Division III Championships.
W&J is led by Head Swimming & Diving Coach Mike Orstein, who begins his 24th year as the Presidents’ leader in 2011-12. Orstein is 14 dual-meet victories shy of 400 for his W&J career (386-154-1). In May of 1996, Orstein, who owns 446 total collegiate victories, received the Master Coach Award from the CSCAA.
Clark University had the top Division III women’s team GPA at 3.67, while Colorado College boasted the best men’s cumulative GPA at 3.54.
The College Swimming Coaches Association is the oldest coaches organization in America. In addition to Scholar All America Awards, the CSCAA recognizes All America swimmers and divers at the national championships every year.
