Arkansas Recognized For Success In And Out Of Pool

NORFOLK, Va. — The College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America recognized seven members of the Arkansas swimming and diving program for their academic success Wednesday morning, while the team as a whole was recognized for its effort in the classroom and in the pool.

“I am extremely proud of our ladies,” said head coach Neil Harper.  “The team has excelled again and this is the fifth semester in a row we have recorded a 3.50 GPA or higher. Our academic and athletic excellence has become part of our tradition and goal here at Arkansas. The individual achievement is amazing because these are our best student-athletes leading the program by excelling in the pool, on the boards and in the classroom.”

Four were named to the 2017 CSCAA Scholar All-America team, while three more were selected as honorable mention.

First team selections recognized student-athletes that held a 3.50 grade point average or higher and participated in the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Arkansas sent freshman Ayumi Macias, juniors Chelsea Tatlow and Nicole Gillis and senior Mary Margaret Soderberg to the NCAA Championships. Of those four athletes who were eligible due to their participation, all were named First Team Scholar All-American.

Gillis, Tatlow and Soderberg were each named to the 2017 Southeastern Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll in April.

This is the second consecutive honor for Tatlow, who was also named to the 2016 CSCAA Scholar All-America Team. Earlier in the year, she was recognized for her involvement in the community, being named to the 2017 SEC Women’s Swimming and Diving Community Service Team for the third consecutive time in her career.

Arkansas also saw three receive honorable mention status, as Sydney Angell, Madison Strathman and Caroline Welch picked up the honor by earning a 3.50 GPA or higher and achieving a “B” time standard or competed at a regional or zone qualifying meet.

As a team, Arkansas was named a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team by tallying a 3.53 GPA for the spring 2017 semester, good for second in the SEC, only behind South Carolina, who ranked second nationally with a 3.71 GPA. Arkansas has recorded a 3.5 GPA or higher in five straight semesters.

For more information on Arkansas Swimming and Diving, follow @RazorbackSD on Twitter.