CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—Thirteen members of the Virginia swimming and diving program have been honored by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as 2015 Scholar All-Americans, the association announced Tuesday (June 30). In addition, both the Cavalier men’s and women’s squads were recognized as CSCAA Scholar All-American Teams.
Graduate seniors Shaun Casey (Port Orange, Fla.), Alison Haulsee (Glen Allen, Va.) and Ellen Williamson (Ft. Mitchell, Ky.) and rising juniors Laura Simon (Simmern, Germany) and Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) from the women’s team were honored, while graduated senior Kelly Offutt (Reisterstown, Md.), rising senior Haley Durmer (Decatur, Ga.) and rising sophomore Cece Williams (Tallahassee, Fla.) earned honorable mention honors.
From the men’s side, graduated senior JB Kolod (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was recognized and graduated senior Charlie Putnam (McLean, Va.) and rising seniors Carl Buergler (Arlington, Va.), Eric Holden (Orange, Conn.) and Colby Shinholser (Burtonsville, Md.) earned honorable mention honors.
Casey, Haulsee, Kolod, Simon, Smith and Williamson all competed in individual events at the NCAA Championships in March, while Buergler, Durmer, Holden, Offutt, Putnam, Shinholser and Williams all competed at the ACC Championships in February. Smith captured two NCAA titles in the 500 free and 1,650 free, while Simon was the NCAA runner-up in the 200 breast. Kolod and Williamson each earned honorable mention All-America honors in 3-meter diving and the 200 IM, respectively. Simon and Williamson were part of the 400 medley relay that placed second at the ACC Championships.
To be selected to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, swimmers and divers must have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and have participated in their respective NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Honorable Mention selections have similarly achieved a GPA of 3.50 and achieved a “B” time standard or competed at their respective qualifying meets.
The women’s team was honored for having a cumulative GPA of 3.27 for the spring semester, while the men’s team earned the award for a cumulative GPA of 3.07. The women captured their eighth-consecutive ACC Championship and finished a program-best fifth at the NCAA Championships, while the men placed ninth at ACCs and 33rd at NCAAs.
To be selected as a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, programs must have achieved a grade point average of 3.00 or higher over the Spring semester.
Swimming news courtesy of Virginia Swimming & Diving.
