The College Swimming Coaches Association has released its annual Scholar All-American awards, and I am proud to announce that 4 of our women have received Scholar All-American Honors and our Women’s Team was named a CSCAA Scholar All-American Team for Spring 2009.

Rising junior Marissa Morris (Tom’s River, NJ) has been named a Scholar All-American.  To be considered for this award, an athlete must have qualified for the NCAA Championships and achieved a GPA a 3.50 or higher.

Graduated seniors Erica Ellis and Joelle Hopf, and rising junior Jess Lester have been named Honorable Mention Scholar All-Americans.  For this, the athletes must have achieved an NCAA Consideration Time as well as a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Our women’s team has continued to excel in the classroom, claiming a team GPA of 3.47 for spring 2009, which tied them for 16th in the NCAA among ALL division 3 teams.  They have been named a Scholar All-American Team yet again.

Many congratulations to all the recipients!

Scholar All-American article

Scholar All-American team article

CHAMPIONSHIPS Performance of the Year

Women’s Swimming 2008-2009:

Jess Lester, SUNYAC Record Holder

The New Paltz Distance Program claimed its first SUNYAC victory in recent memory.  Sophomore Jess Lester, runner up last year in the 1650,was out very fast but faced stiff competition in Oswego’s Nicole Dean.  At the 1000, Lester broke our 1000 varsity record by 17 seconds but trailed by 3.3 seconds to Dean.

When she increased pace with about a 500 to go, she gradually closed the gap and finally passed her on length 58.  In the final 200, Lester would split 2:03.70 while Dean split 2:09.42.

Lester’s final time of 17:36.70 broke a 25 year old varsity record– by 29 seconds.  She also set the SUNYAC Record, achieved NCAA Consideration, and was the women’s 3rd individual event winner of the meet.  Later in the session she would go on to split 53.5 on our record setting 400 Free Relay.

Her performance in the 1650 has been named Championships Performance of the Year for 2008-2009.

Her sophomore season was one to remember as she dropped 9 seconds in the 500 (5:08), 4 seconds in the 200 (1:54) and 36 seconds in the 1650.  She would also swim a lifetime best 2:13 in the 200 Back at ECAC’s.  Her distance training extends through the summer as she will soon compete in an Olympic distance Triathlon.  She is one of the top hopefuls for NCAA’s 2009 both individually and as a member of the freestyle relays.