By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's and women's swimming teams have qualified for Scholar All-America recognition from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as a result of their successful efforts in the classroom during the 2019 fall semester. It was the 11th consecutive semester that both of Willamette's teams qualified for the award.

Nationwide, a record 762 swimming programs at 480 colleges and universities in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, the NAIA and the NJCAA qualified for Scholar All-America honors.

Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III. The Bearcats also compete in the Northwest Conference. In Division III, a total of 182 women's teams and 122 men's teams earned Scholar All-America status this past fall. Six NWC men's teams and six NWC women's attained Scholar All-America honors.

"I'm very proud of our Men's and Women's teams accomplishments in the classroom for the fall 2019 semester. The women's team had its highest team GPA and the men's team had its third highest team GPA since the spring of 2013. Our swimmers truly embody what it means to be a Division III student-athlete and that can be seen in their success in the classroom and in the pool." 
— Willamette Head Coach Brent Summers

The Scholar All-America honor went to programs that earned team grade point averages of 3.0 or higher during the semester. The Willamette women's team produced a 3.57 combined GPA during the fall, while the Bearcat men's team finished the semester with a 3.35 combined GPA.