Jan. 29, 2018
by Tony Jones
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – As a strong competitive season continues to take shape for the University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, the Irish have also achieved in the classroom on their path to success. The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced on Monday that both Notre Dame squads earned the distinction of Scholar All-America for the fall 2017 semester.
For a team to be considered for CSCAA Scholar All-America, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team GPA includes all eligible varsity student-athletes. The Notre Dame women’s team posted a cumulative GPA of 3.45 during the most recent fall semester, while the Irish men’s team logged a team GPA of 3.24 to claim CSCAA Scholar All-America accolades.
“The challenge at Notre Dame is to excel,” Notre Dame head coach Mike Litzinger said. “Excellence in the classroom, in the pool and in life. I am very proud of the efforts our team gives in these areas on a daily basis, it is what makes being at Notre Dame even more special.”
Academic achievement has been synonymous with the Notre Dame swimming and diving program since Litzinger assumed the reins in 2015. The Irish are now four-time CSCAA Scholar All-America team honorees (spring 2016, fall 2016, spring 2017 and fall 2017) during Litzinger’s tenure, and a total of 16 student-athletes have been named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Academic Team during that span.
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Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball, men’s soccer and swimming and diving programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.