By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's swimming and men's swimming teams have qualified for Scholar All-America honors from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for their efforts in the classroom during the 2023 fall semester. It was the 19th consecutive semester that both of Willamette's teams have been honored by the CSCAA for their academic success.

The Scholar All-America award went to programs that earned team grade point averages of 3.0 or higher during the semester. The Bearcat men's team achieved a 3.47 combined GPA during the fall semester, while the Willamette women's team completed the semester with a 3.44 combined GPA. Willamette Director of Swimming Brett Summers is the head coach of both teams.

Nationwide, 783 teams from colleges and universities in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, the NAIA, and the NJCAA qualified for Scholar All-America status during the fall. The teams, who were selected based on their team grade point averages, represent a total of 18, 716 student-athletes.

Willamette is a member of the Northwest Conference and the Bearcats compete in NCAA Division III. In the 2023 fall semester, 183 women's teams and 151 men's teams in NCAA Division III earned Scholar All-America honors. Six NWC men's teams and five NWC women's teams qualified for Scholar All-America recognition.