Ball State University Athletics
Women?s S&D Boasts Top GPA In The Nation
July 21, 2011 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Behind the strength of an NCAA-leading 3.600 team grade-point average, the Ball State women's swimming & diving team has been honored as a Spring 2011 Scholar All-America Team by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.
"Our student-athletes are extremely dedicated in their academic and career pursuits, as well as their athletic successes," said head coach Laura Seibold-Caudill. "I feel there is an atmosphere of support among the athletes and coaches to be successful both in the classroom and the pool. Being named the top academic program in the country shows our student-athletes' hard work and dedication has paid off."
The Cardinals' 3.600 GPA for the 2011 spring semester was 0.01 higher than Evansville, Tulane and Clemson who tied for second with 3.59 team GPAs. Overall, 98 women's teams were recognized for having at least a 3.04 GPA including four other Mid-American Conference schools; Miami (3.47), Akron (3.44), Buffalo (3.39) and Ohio (3.11).
In addition to the team honors, junior divers Christina Riordan (Homewood, Ill./Homewood Flossmoor H.S.) and Whitney Adams (Danville, Ind./Danville H.S.) were named to the 2010-11 Scholar All-America Honorable Mention squad after both qualifying for the NCAA Zone Diving competition.
"Both Christina and Whitney are exceptionally strong students," said Seibold-Caudill. "They have a tremendous drive to excel in the classroom and the diving well."
Riordan, a pre-med/biology major with a 3.53 GPA, turned in a school-record three-meter score of 312.00 at Buffalo (Jan. 29). The effort ranked her third in the conference entering the MAC Championships, but she suffered a season-ending injury just prior to the league meet.
Adams, an elementary education major with a 3.79 GPA, turned in a pair of top-10 performances at the 2011 MAC Championships, placing eighth on the three-meter board (236.10) and 10th on the one-meter board (244.30).
