Carleton Leads CSCAA Academic Teams

Gardner-Webb University, the University of Findlay and Carleton College topped the combined women's and men's team SPEEDO Academic All-American lists, according to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), which sponsors the awards and collects the data each semester from college swim teams throughout the USA before producing the official list.

A total of 273 teams – 184 women's and 89 men's – made the listings by recording a team grade point average of 3.00 or better during the fall semester of 2008.

The CSCAA leadership did itself proud too, as every member of the Executive Board boasted Academic All-American teams, while teams coached by eight of the remaining 11 members of the Board of Directors matched that achievement.

Division III's Carleton College scored the highest combined GPA among all schools.  The Carleton women ranked first among Division III women with a 3.53 GPA, just ahead of Emory University at 3.51.  At 3.46, the Carleton men were third in the Division III men's field behind Washington University of St. Louis (3.48) and Ohio Wesleyan (3.47).

In the combined list, Carleton led with 3.495, followed by Claremont-Mudd (3.44), Washington of St. Louis (3.42), MIT (3.40) and Ohio Wesleyan (3.395).

Carleton head coach Andy Clark was momentarily speechless when informed of his team's achievement. “No way!,” he said “That's fantastic! This will be well received here in Northfield, Minnesota,” he predicted

Clark paid tribute to his swimmers, adding that they “have a great ability to balance the academic and athletic demands on their time.”

In Division I, Gardner-Webb University, coached by Mike Simpson, was top dog, with the men ranking first with a 3.33 GPA, just .01 of a point ahead of Georgetown University, coached by Steve Cartwright. The Gardner-Webb women ranked second with a collective GPA of 3.62, only .02 of a point behind the women of Marshall University, coached by Leonard Kraus.

Combining the men's and women's team, Gardner-Webb led Division I with a 3.475 GPA. Georgetown was second at 3.36, with Lafayette (3.335), Brown (3.305). and Eastern Michigan (3.30) occupying the next three spots.

Wayne Norris' University of Findlay swimmers led the way in Division II with a combined GPA of 3.25. The Findlay men tied with Missouri S&T for the top men's spot at 3.30, while the women were 12th with 3.20. The C.W. Post/Long Island University women, coached by Maureen Travers had it their way in the women's division with a 3.51 combined GPA, followed by Bridgeport 3.47.

In the combined rankings, Ashland followed Findlay with a 3.23, with Rollins, coached by former CSCAA president Dr. Rich Morris, tied with Lewis for third at 3.17.