Feb. 23, 2012

EVANSTON, Ill. - It has become routine for the Missouri State men's and women's swimming & diving teams to earn the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Team Scholar All-America award following each semester. The 2011 fall term was no different as each Bears' squad collected Scholar All-America honors, the CSCAA announced Thursday.

"We take a lot of pride in trying to create a well-rounded and successful environment for our athletes," interim head coach Dave Collins explains. "The academic awards that come in based on our team GPA really tells a lot about the success of how hard these athletes work."

The Team Scholar All-America award is presented to college and university swimming & diving teams who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Over 500 teams from across all divisions of swimming & diving achieved the honor, based on the requirements listed above.

The MSU women compiled a team GPA of 3.24, which was tied for 87th among 162 Division I women's programs. On a much more exclusive list, the Bears combined for 3.14 GPA and were 29th out of 72 Division I men's teams.

"It is a tremendous honor and it says a lot about our atmosphere," Collins added. "Not just around the pool deck, but in the classroom and in the achievement center. With all of the advisers and resources available to the student-athletes, it is such a wonderful program we have here on the academic side."

In addition to the Scholar All-America awards, the CSCAA, which is the oldest coaches organization in America, recognizes All-American swimmers and divers at the National Championships every year.

To view the complete CSCAA Scholar All-America honors lists, click here.