Senior Kelly Ryan hit a career mark leading off the 800 free relay (1:46.37) in her last Irish race.

Irish Swimming And Diving Posts Sterling Spring In Classroom

July 22, 2013

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame swimming and diving programs concluded a successful spring in the water with academic accolades in the classroom, as both the men’s and women’s teams were recently selected as College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Team Scholar All-America honorees. A total of five Notre Dame swimming and diving student-athletes were named to the CSCAA NCAA Division I Scholar All-America first team, while an additional eight received honorable mention Scholar All-America recognition.

On the men’s side, Notre Dame’s team grade point average of 3.31 ranked 15th nationally among Division I programs, and was the fourth-best single semester performance in school history. The Irish led all Division I men’s swimming and diving teams with a 3.352 GPA in the spring semester of 1999.

Frank Dyer became just the second Notre Dame swimmer in program history to be named to the CSCAA Scholar All-America first team, joining Bill Bass (2012). To be eligible for CSCAA Scholar All-America consideration, a student-athlete must achieve a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher and have qualified for and competed at their respective national championship. Dyer is the only Irish men’s swimmer to garner multiple career All-America citations after registering point scoring swims at each of the last two NCAA Championship meets.

Five other members of the Irish men’s squad, swimmers Colin Babcock, Broderick Kelley, Bertie Nel, and divers Michael Kreft and Ryan Koter were each tabbed honorable mention Scholar All-America. Each student-athlete achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the semester, and posted an NCAA “B” time standard to be eligible for consideration. Koter, a 2013 Notre Dame graduate, finished his Irish career as a three-time CSCAA Scholar All-America honorable mention choice, while Babcock, Nel and Kreft have each received the award the past two seasons.

On the women’s side, the Irish finished with a 3.26 GPA, while standouts Jenny Chiang Kim Holden, Emma Reaney and Kelly Ryan all earned CSCAA Scholar All-America first team accolades.

At the NCAA Championships in March, Reaney led the way with two All-America scrolls (100, 200 Breast) and two honorable mention All-America certificates (200 IM, 400 Medley Relay). Holden and Ryan both earned honorable mention All-America awards in the 200 back and 400 medley relay, while Chiang finished off a brilliant diving career with honorable mention All-America accolades in the 3-meter discipline.

In addition, Gracie Fredlake, Sarah Dotzel and Christen McDonough received honorable mention Scholar All-Americans. All three participated at the BIG EAST Championships, with McDonough leading the way with a pair of all-BIG EAST scrolls (200 Free Relay, 100 Breast).

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