Posted: Feb 25, 2011

CSCAA honors Chapman with top academic award

ORANGE, Calif. - The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) has announced the Chapman University women's swimming and diving team has achieved team Scholar All-America status, for the Fall 2010 Semester. This is the first team honor the Panthers' swimming and diving program has earned.

The Panthers' team grade point average of 3.37 tied them for 19th in the nation. Of Chapman's 36 team members, 31 have cumulative GPAs higher than 3.0 while enrolled at the university. Three Panthers – senior Gabby Benavidez, sophomore Kayla Heath and senior Hannah Thomas – have averages over 3.8.

Chapman finished up their season last weekend in the Pacific Coast Swimming Conference (PCSC) championships, breaking four school records in the process. Senior Julia Fish, junior Amanda Thompson, sophomores Amanda Morris, Sam Martin, and Sami McLaughlin, and freshman Julie Case all aided in the record breaking event.

The CSCAA is the oldest coaches association in the United States. The team Scholar All-America Award is presented to college swimming and diving teams whose combined grade point average is 3.0 or higher.

by Bryan Ziebelman
Sports Information Intern