Ball State University Athletics
Men's Swimming & Diving Places Four on Academic All-MAC Squad
March 17, 2006 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Muncie, Ind. -- Four members of the Ball State men's swimming & diving squad have been named to the 2005-06 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Men's Swimming and Diving Team as voted on by the league's faculty athletic representatives. Seniors Kurtis Leer (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble H.S.) and Joshua Schum (Mt. Vernon, Ind./Mt. Vernon H.S.) earn the honor for the second-straight season, while senior Robert Funk (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian H.S.) and junior Zach Whitaker (Coatesville, Ind./North Putnam H.S.) are first-time honorees.
A total of 14 student-athletes were named to the 2005-06 squad. The number of honorees on the Academic All-MAC Team are the number that is set for the specific sport or 33 percent of the number of nominees, whichever is greater.
To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
Leer, a physics major with a 3.521 GPA, earned First Team All-MAC accolades at the 2006 MAC Championships as well as MAC Co-Senior Swimmer of the Year. A three-time champion at the 2006 event, Leer defended his titles from 2005 in the 50 (20.62), 100 (45.29) and 200 (1:39.50) Freestyle events. In addition, he contributed to the third-place 200 Freestyle Relay (1:23.47) and 800 Freestyle Relay (6:51.85) teams, as well as the fourth-place 400 Freestyle Relay (3:06.20) team. During the season, he accumulated 24 individual top three times - - including 20 first-place finishes - - and contributed to 10 first-place relay teams.
Schum, an urban planning major with a 3.663 GPA, was named to the All-MAC Second Team at the 2006 MAC Championships. He clocked a fourth-place time of 45.86 in the 100 Freestyle, while placing fifth in the 200 Freestyle (1:41.61). Schum also placed ninth in the 50 Freestyle (20.98) and 13th in the 100 Breaststroke (59.84). In addition, he was a member of the third-place 200 Freestyle Relay (1:23.47) and 800 Freestyle Relay (6:51.85) teams, as well as the fourth-place 400 Freestyle Relay (3:06.20) squad. He finished the year with 10 individual top three times - - including a pair of first-place efforts - - while being a member of five first-place relay squads.
Funk, a chemistry/pre-med major with a 3.768 GPA, earned a pair of top 13 times at the 2006 MAC Championships, placing 11th in the 200 Breaststroke (2:10.63) and 13th in the 100 Breaststroke (59.84). He finished the season with three individual top three times, including one first-place effort. Funk was also a member of two first-place relay squads.
Whitaker, a public relations major with a 3.485 GPA, was the Cardinals' top diver at the 2006 MAC Championships, placing third on the 1-Meter board (287.80) and seventh on the 3-Meter board (271.50). Last weekend, Whitaker competed at the 2006 NCAA Zone C Diving Qualifying Meet with a 22nd-place finish on the 3-Meter board and a 26th-place finish on the 1-Meter board. During the season, Whitaker recorded 19 individual top three dives, including 10 first-place efforts.
