University of Florida Swimmers Once Again Are Tops in Academic Achievement

GAINESVILLE, Fla., May 29. THE University of Florida men's and women's swimming and diving teams earned a total of 37 Academic All-Southeastern Conference selections for the 2002-03 academic year. The 37 honors were part of a record number 193 Academic All-SEC selections for the entire Gator athletic's program in 2003.

Both the men's and women's swimming and diving teams set all-time highs in academic selections as the men collected 20 and the women garnered 17.

The 20 honors for the men's team led all men's teams at the University of Florida. As a percentage of total team membership, both the men's and women's swim teams easily ranked first at the University.

Earlier this year, both the men's and women's swimming and diving teams were ranked No. 1 in a poll for combining academic success and athletic achievement, which was voted on by the College Swim Coaches Association of America. Entering the 2002-03 season of competition, the men's team had a cumulative grade point average of 3.4, while the women had an equally impressive 3.3.

Eleven members from the men's team were honored with their first academic selections, including: Steve Friedlander, Scott Kaufmann, Chris Kellam, Greg King, Scott Schultz, Duncan Sherrard, Jonathan Strauss, Corey Welch, Kris Wiebeck, Zach Wilcox and Justin Zumsteg.

Eight members from the women's team were also honored for the first time. The list of new members included: Janelle Atkinson, Kristen Connor, Cerian Gibbes, Chantal Gibney, Rebecca Harper, Katie Kennedy, Sarah McLarty, Jessica Schrock and Casey Seland.

During Gator Head Coach Gregg Troy's first five seasons as the leader of the women's program, 34 athletes have combined to earn 64 Academic All-SEC selections. On the men's side, Troy's first four years as the head of that team, 30 athletes have combined to garner 60 honors.

In addition to the conference honors, several Gator swimmers were honored with academic awards at the 15th Annual Office of Student Life Academic Awards Banquet on Tuesday, April 15, 2003. Five Gators — Eric Donnelly, Michael Jansen, Leah Martindale, Cara Teague and Diane Tennison — won the James W. Kynes Memorial Scholarship for post-graduate studies. Seniors Bernie Guenther and Matt Yacco were two of 20 Gator athletes to win a Gator Achievement Award for hardwork in the classroom during their four years of competition.

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