COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - With just two weeks remaining before the start of the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference Championships, the Delta State University Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving teams were recently named recipients of the Scholar All-America Award by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America. DSU was a part of a record 713 teams from 460 institutions named to the Scholar All-America Team for the Fall 2018 semester.  The teams were selected by the CSCAA's Scholar All-America committee on the basis of their Fall grade point averages and represent 16,502 student-athletes. In NCAA Division II, the Statesmen were one of 43 teams to earn the honor while the Lady Statesmen counted themselves among 79 teams honored.

"Our Statesmen and Lady Statesmen put the in the work in the pool and in the classroom, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished so far this year," DSU head coach Dan'l Murray said.

The Lady Statesmen turned in a 3.42 GPA for the fall semester while the Statesmen earned a 3.23 GPA. Both teams are currently ranked in the top 15 of the TYR/CSCAA National Poll. 

"We are extremely proud of the efforts coach Dan'l Murray, his staff and our student-athletes put into their academic efforts," Director of Athletics Mike Kinnison said.

To earn the honor, teams were required to post a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the Fall semester and maintain a roster of 12 or more student-athletes. 

Members of the CSCAA Scholar All-America Committee include Paul Richards, Chair (Dickinson), Brent Summers (Willamette), Gwynn Harrison (Bridgewater), Hollie Bonewit-Cron (Miami-OH), Jason Hite (Indianapolis), Jonathan Jordan (Lincoln College), Jerod Simek (Truman State), Milania Socha (Dartmouth), Nikki Rosen (Davis & Elkins), RC Weston (Alfred State).

Founded in 1922, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) – the oldest organization of college coaches in America – is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming & diving at the collegiate level.  

For more information on the Scholar All-America Award or the CSCAA, please click here.