Swimming: Team/Individuals Earn Academic Honor
July 06, 2010 03:06 PM | General
By Grant Dovey for MSNsportsNET.com
July 6, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Both the West Virginia University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have been named to the CSCAA (Collegiate Swim Coaches Association of America) All-Academic Team for the spring 2010 term with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
“Each year our teams have raised their overall GPA and it is a big testament to the individuals on the team and their commitment to academics,” coach Vic Riggs says. “With the women’s team earning this award for the fourth time, and the men for the first, this distinction has been a large priority for the staff and team. I want to congratulate them on their achievement.”
The women’s team finished with an overall GPA of 3.195 and the men’s team finished with a GPA of 3.0895.
Individually, NCAA Championship participants and qualifiers, Kayla Andrews, Morgan Callaway, George Farquhar, Ashley Malik and Brandon Robinson were named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans.
“Having five individuals gain this distinction says a lot about them as student-athletes,” Riggs continues. “With the resources Coach (Garrett) Ford and Paul Downey have provided the program, I feel we have one of the best academic support systems in place for our student-athletes here at WVU. I want to thank them for all their hard work with all our sports.”
Andrews, an exercise physiology graduate, received the award for the second-consecutive season. The Newark, Del., native swam in the 50 free and 100 free at the 2010 NCAA Championships and was an honorable mention All-American as part of the 400 free relay team. She was a four-year NCAA qualifier.
Like Andrews, Callaway is a two-time honoree and graduated with a degree in child development and family studies. A four-year NCAA qualifier, Callaway swam in multiple events at the 2010 NCAA Championships and was the 2009 BIG EAST Most Outstanding Swimmer. A Coatesville, Pa., native, Callaway was an honorable mention All-American in the 400 free relay and holds school records in the 200 free, 100 back and 200 back.
The top men’s breaststroker, Farquhar was the BIG EAST Champion in the 100 breast this past season as a junior. A Queensland, Australia, native and civil engineering major, Farquhar earned an NCAA “B” cut in the 100 breast and returns for his senior season in 2010-11.
Malik holds the school record on the 1-meter board and qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships last season. A native of Latrobe, Pa., Malik graduated from WVU with a sport management degree and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in business administration.
A Sicklerville, N.J., native, Robinson graduated from the physical education teaching program this past May. A two-year NCAA Zone Diving Championships qualifier, Robinson has helped develop the men’s diving program and holds the school record on the 1-meter board.
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.
All five student-athletes are BIG EAST Academic All-Stars and members of the Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll.
