Ball State University Athletics
CSCAA Honors Ball State Swimming & Diving Teams
April 05, 2006 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - According to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America, the Ball State men's swimming and diving program finished the 2005 fall semester with the fifth-highest grade-point average in the nation, while the women's squad placed 17th on the list. The men's ranking was its highest in school history.
For the men's program, 22 student-athletes competed during the fall semester posting a combined 3.22 GPA, with senior Jim Lullo pacing the squad with a perfect 4.0 average. A total of 14 members of the program finished the semester with a GPA above the team average. Overall, the men's program was the highest-ranked Mid-American Conference and Indiana school on the list. Yale earned the highest GPA at 3.42, followed by Xavier (3.35), Missouri State (3.26) and Harvard (3.23).
The women's team finished the fall semester with a 3.31 GPA among the 28 student-athletes who competed during the term. Freshman Erika Paul paced the squad with a 3.81 average, while 20 members finished the semester with a GPA above the team average. Overall, the women's program was the second-highest ranked Indiana school behind Butler (3.46), and the third-highest MAC program, trailing Eastern Michigan (3.56) - - the top school overall - - and Miami (3.34).
Under the guidance of co-head coaches Bob Thomas and Laura Seibold-Caudill, the teams combined to place seven student-athletes on the 2005-06 Academic All-MAC squad announced earlier in the year. On the men's side, seniors Kurtis Leer and Joshua Schum earned Academic All-MAC status for the second-straight season, while senior Robert Funk and junior Zach Whitaker were first-time honorees.
On the women's side, junior Mary Brinkoetter was named to the Academic All-MAC squad for the second-straight season, while senior Paige Vernasco and sophomore Michelle Huang picked up the award for the first time.
