The Ouachita Baptist University women’s swimming & diving team earned the nation’s top GPA, College Swimming Coaches Association of America announced, with seven selected NCAA Division II Academic All-American.
The Lady TigerSharks edged the University of Tampa for the nation’s top GPA with a standard of 3.55, just 0.02 ahead of Tampa. Bentley and Missouri S&T, led all men’s programs with 3.20 GPA’s respectively.
Ouachita’s Lauren Vickroy (4.00), Katie Patterson (4.00) Brittany Norton (3.75), Sarah Watson (3.64), Summer Morris (3.63), Jenny Rocchio (3.55) and Trina May (3.54) were selected to the NCAA Division II Academic All-American Team. Jen Jorgenson (3.84) was tabbed to the Academic All-American Honorable Mention Team.
On the men’s side, the TigerSharks placed six on the Academic All-American Team and had the 10th highest GPA.
John Mark McLain (3.80), Vicente Condorelli (3.79), Daniel Karkoska (3.77), Hal Eubanks (3.75), Radu Badalac (3.71) and James Riddle (3.57) were selected NCAA Division II Academic All-Americans. Jason Purdy (3.79) was named to the Academic All-American Honorable Mention Team.
A total of 69 Division II student-athletes – 43 women and 26 men – met the stringent academic and athletic requirements – a GPA of 3.500 or better and qualifying for the NCAA Championships – to earn individual Academic All-American honors. An additional 30 swimmers earned Honorable Mention honors for GPA’s of 3.50 or higher with a NCAA Consideration time.
The Ouachita swimming and diving teams open the season Friday, Oct. 24 at rival Henderson State.
