Women's Swimming: Team Honored For Academics
July 02, 2009 02:25 PM | General
By Grant Dovey for MSNsportsNET.com
July 2, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women’s swimming and diving team has been named a CSCAA (Collegiate Swim Coaches Association of America) Scholar-Athlete team for the spring 2009 term with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
“It is with great pride that our women’s team has been recognized as a CSCAA Scholar-Athlete Team,” coach Vic Riggs says. “The program continues to stress the importance of excellence in the classroom.”
Individually, NCAA Championship participants Kayla Andrews, Morgan Callaway and Lindsey Largo were named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans.
To be selected to the Scholar All-America team, swimmers must qualify for the NCAA Championship meet and achieve a GPA of 3.50 or higher.
“Having our women’s NCAA participants be named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans shows the commitment that WVU, the staff and the team puts forth, not only in the pool, but in the classroom as well,” Riggs says. “Congratulations to these women and the women’s team.”
Andrews, an exercise physiology major, just completed her junior season and was an NCAA participant in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly. The trip marked the third time Andrews has made it to the NCAA Championships.
A native of Newark, Del., Andrews defended her 100 freestyle title at the 2009 BIG EAST Championships and holds numerous school and pool records.
“Academics have always been important to me,” Andrews says. “Swimming is great, but school comes first and doing well in school now will help me later when I apply to graduate school.”
Callaway has just completed her junior year and is a child development and family studies major. Callaway had top performances last season and was named the women’s BIG EAST Most Outstanding Swimmer for her performance at the 2009 Championships in Indianapolis.
The Coatesville, Pa., native, now has a total of 10 BIG EAST Champion medals throughout her career and is in the West Virginia record book holding four individual records and four relay records. At the NCAA Championships, Callaway swam in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 200 backstroke.
“I obviously enjoy swimming, but I am here for an education first,” Callaway says. “I am hoping to further my education and receive a master’s degree in special needs following my undergraduate degree.”
Largo, a Sarasota, Fla., native, has just completed her tenure as a Mountaineer and will graduate with a degree in elementary education. At the NCAA Championships this past season, Largo swam in the 1650 freestyle after swimming in the 400 individual medley, 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle the previous season.
At the 2009 BIG EAST Championships, Largo had her first career win at the championships with a first-place finish in the 1650 freestyle, as she helped the women finish in fifth place.
“Although I am very proud of my accomplishments in the pool, I am just as proud of what I have done in the classroom,” Largo says. “The same principle applies to both – hard work and perseverance pays off for both.”
All three student-athletes are BIG EAST Academic All-Stars and members of the Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll.
