By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's and women's swimming teams have received Scholar All-America Team honors from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as a result of their success in the classroom during the fall 2017 semester. Throughout the nation 688 teams from 430 colleges and universities in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, the NAIA and the NJCAA qualified for Scholar All-America Team recognition.

Willamette competes in NCAA Division III. The Bearcats also participate in the Northwest Conference.

"Our women tied for the second-highest grade point average in the conference and it was their highest GPA on record," Willamette Head Coach Leslie Shevlin said. "The men had their highest GPA since the spring of 2014."

The Scholar All-America honor went to programs that earned team grade point averages of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester. It was the seventh consecutive semester that both of Willamette's teams qualified for the award. The WU women's team registered a 3.43 combined GPA during the fall semester. The Willamette men's team finished the semester with a 3.20 combined GPA.

Willamette was one of five women's teams in the Northwest Conference to receive Scholar All-America status. The Bearcat men's team also was one of five teams in the NWC to gain Scholar All-America honors.