SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men and women's swimming and diving teams have been named College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America teams early Wednesday morning.

This honor is awarded to any team that achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the 2015 fall semester. Despite the rigorous training schedule that these teams go through, 547 teams received this honor, which is 40 more than last year.

The UIW women's team recorded a 3.53 GPA, ranking 18^th in the nation, and the men's team posted a 3.19 GPA.  Leading Division I programs this year was Boise State with a 3.64 GPA.
CSCAA Executive Director Joel Shinofield was effusive in his praise, "We really are fortunate to work with the best of the best.  In reality, some would argue that swimmers and divers have some of the most demanding practice schedules, but we find that in most cases their athletic drive and academic goals simply reinforce one another."

"College swimming is a complete preparation for life, where our athletes see the results of goal-setting, perseverance and personal accountability," said USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch. "These values that make swimmers successful in the pool are also what make them stand out in the classroom and become high achievers in their careers after college." This is evident in that over 70% of collegiate swimming and diving teams reported that they have at least one alumnus working in the c-suite.

Shinofield noted that the teams' GPAs were especially impressive given the rigorous course load taken by most swimmers.   A recent survey of Division I programs showed that nearly one third of all male and over 40% of female swimmers and divers pursued degrees in the STEM fields.

To be selected as a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, programs must have achieved a grade point average of 3.00 or higher over the fall semester. 

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.
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