Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Swimming and Diving earns CSCAA academic honors
03/02/2010 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
March 2, 2010
By Dana Ingraham
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University Swimming and Diving program has been honored by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America for the achievements of its student-athletes in the classroom.
The Saluki men and women were each selected as Scholar All-American Teams for the Fall 2009 semester by the CSCAA. To earn CSCAA All-American Team honors, a swimming and diving team must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA for the semester.
"We are extremely pleased with the efforts our athletes have put forth, not only in the pool but in the classroom as well," said SIU head coach Rick Walker. "This kind of honor recognizes that it is extremely difficult to succeed in both areas, and as a program we have shown consistently that we are able to do well each and every semester."
Walker has seen his teams earn CSCAA Academic All-American honors a total of 16 times during his 23 years at Southern.
This year on the women's side, all five members of the Missouri Valley Conference were awarded this academic honor. The SIU women's team came in at No. 28 in the nation with a 3.20 GPA, tied with Missouri State. Evansville tied for seventh with a 3.43 GPA, Northern Iowa tied for 15th with a 3.35 GPA, and Illinois State tied for 18th with a 3.31 GPA.
SIU's men's team was ranked 17th in the country with a 3.10 GPA, along with Mid-American Conference competitor Eastern Michigan. Other MAC schools in the rankings include Ball State and Buffalo, tied at 13th (3.17 GPA) and Evansville with a 3.00 GPA.
With the women capturing third place at the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships just a few weeks ago, it is now the men's turn to make a run at the Mid-American Conference title. Hosted by Eastern Michigan, the three-day championships will feature Ball State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami of Ohio, Missouri State and Southern Illinois. Competition will begin Thursday, March 4 with preliminaries starting at noon.
For more information on the 2010 MAC Men's Swimming & Diving Championships, click here.
