TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Two University of Alabama swimmers – Anton McKee and Connor Oslin – earned a place on the 2015 Men’s Capital One Academic All-America At-Large Teams selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
“We are extremely proud of Anton and Connor and all that they have accomplished to this point in their careers,” UA head coach Dennis Pursley said. “We are especially pleased that they have been recognized with this prestigious honor so early in their career.”
The Crimson Tide swimming and diving program has now earned 12 Academic All-America honors since 2005. McKee and Oslin’s honors also mark the fourth time since 2005 that two members of the swimming and diving team have earned the honor in the same year. The men’s at-large team spans the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo, volleyball and wrestling.
Of the 45 student-athletes who earned a place on either the first, second or third team this year, only four were sophomores, with McKee and Oslin making up half that list. Overall, the Tide duo were two of only 10 members of this year’s at-large team that were not seniors or graduate students.
“For a sophomore to earn a place on the Academic All-America At-Large team is a tremendous accomplishment,” UA Associate Athletics Director for Support Services Jon Dever said. “To have two sophomores from the same school and the same team earn that honor is nothing short of amazing.”
A seven-time All-American, Anton McKee ranked in the top-25 nationally in the 200 breaststroke (6th), 500 freestyle (14th) and 100 breaststroke (22nd) as a sophomore. He set a Southeastern Conference record on the way to the 2014 SEC 200 breaststroke title. As a sophomore, he was part of the 2015 SEC championship 400 medley relay, which set the conference record.
A part of the Tide’s 2015 NCAA runner-up 200 medley relay, McKee is also a two-time All-SEC performer, a 2012 Olympian and the Alabama school record holder in the 100 & 200 breaststroke as well as part of the 200 & 400 medley relays. The Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, native carries a 4.0 for his career while majoring in finance.
Connor Oslin finished his sophomore season ranked fourth in the NCAA in the 100 backstroke and 14th in the 200 backstroke. The six-time All-American won the 2015 SEC 100 backstroke title and set an SEC record as part of the Tide’s 2015 SEC 400 medley relay championship squad. Oslin was also part of the 2015 NCAA runner-up in the 200 medley relay, posting the second fastest 50 backstroke split at the 2015 NCAA Championships.
The All-SEC performer holds the Alabama school records in the 100 and 200 backstrokes and as part of the 200 and 400 medley relays and the 400 freestyle relays. Named Alabama’s Most Valuable Swimmer as a sophomore, the Kennesaw, Ga., native carries a 4.0 career grade point average while pursuing a pre-med degree.
Alabama student-athletes have now earned 11 Academic All-America honors during the 2014-15 school year, with the chance to earn two more when the track and field/cross country team is announced at the end of June. The school record for a single academic year is 13, set in 2013-14.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.0, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her current institution.
Swimming news courtesy of Alabama Swimming and Diving.
Way to go Anton. I had the pleasure of working with him and college recruiting.