Southern Illinoise University Athletics
S&D Earns CSCAA Scholar All-America Recognition
07/21/2017 | 1:05:00 | Swimming & Diving
Saluki teams and four individuals honored by CSCAA.
The Southern Illinois men's and women's swimming and diving teams earned recognition as College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America teams for 2017. In addition, seniors Andre Brilhante and Bobby Wood, junior Bryn Handley and freshman Samantha Parsons were named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans, capping off a successful season in both the pool and in the classroom.
The Saluki men combined for a 3.36 team grade point average, the 20th-best in the nation, while the women earned a 3.59 team GPA, which was good for 27th nationally. To be selected as a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, programs must have achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher over the spring semester.
In total, 720 teams, representing 443 institutions achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the spring 2017 Semester. The Salukis have earned Scholar All-American honors every semester in Rick Walker's 30 seasons as head coach.
Brilhante, Wood, Handley and Parsons were part of a record 997 swimmers and divers named to the CSCAA Scholar All-America teams. To be selected to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, swimmers and divers must have achieved a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher and have participated in their respective NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.Â
Brilhante graduated from SIU this past spring with a 3.815 cumulative GPA as an economics major. It marks his second-straight appearance on the Scholar All-America list, having earned Honorable Mention Scholar All-America last season. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native won the 200-yard freestyle at the MAC Championships with a NCAA 'B' qualifying time of 1:37.40. He also added a silver medal in the 50-yard freestyle and helped Southern's 200-yard medley relay shatter the school record at the meet with a mark of 1:27.51.
An O'Fallon, Mo. native, Wood graduated SIU with a 3.64 GPA as an aviation flight major. A three-time All-MAC Academic team selection, Wood earned his first CSCAA All-America honor after he finished second in the 200 Â breaststroke at the 2017 MAC Championships with a time of 1:57.13. He also helped Southern to a fourth place finish in the 400 medley relay, and added a seventh place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke.
A back-to-back recipient of the MVC's Elite 18 award, Handley earned her first CSCAA Scholar All-America honor after an impressive junior campaign in which she won four MVC titles while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA as a behavior analysis and therapy major. Handley won individual MVC titles in the 500-yard-, 200-yard- and the 1,650-yard freestyles and helped SIU strike gold in the 800-yard freestyle relay. The Louisville, Ky. native finished the 2017 season with an unblemished record in individual events.
Parsons, a communications major with a 4.0 GPA, burst onto the scene after she broke two school records in her first five meets at SIU. At the Missouri State Invite on Oct. 8, Parsons broke an eight-year old school record in the 200-yard breaststroke, and three meets later, shattered the school record in the 200-yard IM at the Louisville Invite. The Montreal, Canada native went on to earn All-MVC Honorable Mention after she helped SIU place third in the 200 medley relay at the 2017 MVC Championships.
Players Mentioned
