Women's water polo ranks third in the nation in team GPA

ORANGE, Calif. – A remarkable 17 members of the Chapman University women's water polo team (out of 19 on the roster) qualified for All-Academic recognition by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) for the 2013. And as a result of the Panthers' hard work in the classroom, Chapman climbed into a tie for No. 3 in the nation in team GPA, up two spots from last year.

For the second year in a row, the Panthers rank in the top-five in team grade-point average amongst all water polo playing institutions (in all divisions) in the country. Chapman's mark of 3.46 is tied with Macalester (Minn.) and ahead of such powerhouse academic schools as Brown (No. 6), Harvard (No. 8) and Stanford (No. 11). The Panthers are also tops in the SCIAC with the next-closest conference rival, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, coming in at No. 19.

The ACWPC All-Academic Awards are broken down into three levels based on GPA. An athlete with a GPA between 4.0 and 3.71 is "Outstanding". Those with a GPA ranging from 3.70 to 3.41 are "Superior" and between 3.40 and 3.20 is "Excellent".

Four Panthers earned "Outstanding" honors, led by sophomore goalie Kirsten Spicer who carries a 3.93 GPA as a double-major in educational studies and history. Spicer also recently earned Capital One Academic All-District VIII honors this spring. Freshman driver Sara McAllaster (3.83), sophomore 2-meter Anna Price (3.79) and sophomore utility Kassy Parker (3.78) also led the way for the Panthers in the "Outstanding" category.

Superior honorees include: freshman Ava Klein, sophomore Jordan Gilmore, senior Samantha Martin, senior Samantha McLaughlin, freshman Keely Dulaney, freshman Kate Staskus and freshman Kate Avery.

Excellent honorees include: senior Mandy Sheehan, freshman Miranda Estrella, freshman Maddy Reeves, freshman Alison Quincy, sophomore Riley Ford and freshman Rylee Boland.

Players must have competed in at least 50 percent of the team's games during the 2013 season and have at least a 3.2 GPA to earn ACWPC honors.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

ACWPC All-Academic Awards: http://www.collegewaterpolocoach.org/uploads/4/8/6/0/4860444/2013_acwpc_womens_all-academic_awards.pdf

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