NC State 5th year Eric Knowles was named the 2022 Elite 90 Award winner for NCAA Men’s Division I Swimming & Diving. Knowles has a 4.0 cumulative GPA studying Materials Science. As a graduate student, he would have the tie-breaker on credits completed over any other 4.0 GPAs in attendance.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their peers. The Elite 90 Award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 90 championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
As a graduate student, Knowles would have the tie-breaker on credits completed over any other 4.0 GPAs in attendance.
In the pool, Knowles is a two-time ACC Champion, winning the 500 free individually in 2019 and swimming on NC State’s winning 800 free relay in 2021. He also has 6 All-America awards, swimming on NC State’s 800 free relays in 2020 and 2021, and earning individual All-America awards in the 500 free in 2020, 1650 free in 2019 and 2020, and 400 IM in 2020.
At this week’s meet, he finished 33rd in the 500 free in 4:17.77, 26th in the 400 IM in 3:45.21, and 19th in the 1650 free in 14:56.86.
All-Time Winners, Elite 90 Award, NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming & Diving
| Year | Award | Name | Division | School | Conference | Sport | Major | GPA |
| 2010 | Elite 90 | Elliott, Andrew | 1 | The Ohio State University | Big Ten Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Finance | 4.00 |
| 2011 | Elite 90 | Farra, Justin | 1 | The Ohio State University | Big Ten Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Political Science and Economics | 3.874 |
| 2012 | Elite 90 | Sterling, Brent | 1 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Southeastern Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Biological Sciences | 3.98 |
| 2013 | Elite 90 | Sterling, Brent | 1 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Southeastern Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Biological Sciences | 3.98 |
| 2014 | Elite 90 | Stewart, Tynan | 1 | University of Georgia | Southeastern Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | English | 4.00 |
| 2015 | Elite 90 | Stewart, Tynan | 1 | University of Georgia | Southeastern Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | English and Cognitive Science | 4.00 |
| 2016 | Elite 90 | Lile, Nathan | 1 | Gardner-Webb University | Big South Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Computer Science | 4.00 |
| 2017 | Elite 90 | Ransford, Patrick | 1 | University of Michigan | Big Ten Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Mechanical Engineering | 4.00 |
| 2018 | Elite 90 | Ransford, Patrick | 1 | University of Michigan | Big Ten Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Mechanical engineering | 4.00 |
| 2019 | Elite 90 | Reilman, Joey | 1 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Southeastern Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Industrial Engineering | 3.94 |
| 2021 | Elite 90 | Oh, Micah | 1 | U.S. Naval Academy | Patriot League | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Applied Math | 4.00 |
| 2022 | Elite 90 | Knowles, Eric | 1 | NC State University | Atlantic Coast Conference | Men’s Swimming and Diving | Materials Science | 4.00 |
Insane to have those grades in one of the very hardest curricula, but doing so while personally performing at that level and being a team captain and leader of a top five team is absolutely ridiculous. Name to remember for the future solving the world’s technical challenges!
Congratulations Eric!
Kinda insane that this dude never got anything lower than A- AND he’s in grad school rn
That’s an achievement for anybody and doing that while swimming like this. Unbelievable.
Great meet by an exceptional team captain! The Pack will miss Eric!