Swimming Teams Top List For Academic Success
Thursday, September 19, 2002 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Florida men's and women's swimming teams are enjoying just as much success in the classroom as they are in the pool.
A poll released by Swimming World Magazine reported that the University of Florida was the top scoring Division I school in the nation for combining academic success with athletic achievement. The poll combines individual and team placings from the 2002 NCAA Championships, and team grade point average during the most recent semester or quarter. The team GPA figures came from the Spring 2002 Academic All-America list compiled by the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).
"As important as the conference victory and NCAA finishes were," Gator swimming Head Coach Gregg Troy said, "our focal point as a team emphasizes being just as strong academically as athletically."
Combined with their fourth-place finish at last spring's NCAAs, the men's team finished the spring semester with a 3.3 GPA. The achievements were good enough for a No. 1 ranking in the men's Division I poll.
The women's team finished third in the poll by finishing tied for seventh at the NCAA Championships and a 3.3 GPA during the spring.
"This achievement is a real credit to the Office of Student Life," Troy added. "Much of our success can be credited to the guidance and influence that they give to the student-athletes here at Florida."
Florida was a success last spring, as two men's swimmers, Mike Jansen and Eric Donnelly, were awarded with NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship honors. On the women's side, 12 females earned Academic All-Southeastern Conference selections.
Since Coach Troy assumed the head coaching duties five years ago, 26 women and 19 men have earned Academic All-SEC selections. The 45 student-athletes have combined to earn 87 honors.
UF
