July 7, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following another outstanding season, seven Penn State swimmers - three men and four women - have been named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans as recently announced by CollegeSwimming.com. Basil Kaaki (Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia) and Vincent Reydams (Falls Church, Va.) on the men's side and Kelly Nelson from the women's squad were named All-Americans while Chris Sullivan (Naples, Fla.), Sarah Baker (Fairfax, Va.), Caitlin Meehan (West Chester, Pa.), and Michele Myers (Boalsburg, Pa.) received Honorable Mention accolades.
Kaaki, a rising senior, had an outstanding junior campaign highlighted by a first place finish in the 100m butterfly, 200m free relay, and 400m medley relay on January 16 in a meet that featured Maryland, Pittsburgh, and Villanova. His showing in the NCAA Championships earned him Honorable Mention All-American status.
Recently graduated Reydams racked up six first-place finishes, three coming in the 200m Medley Relay. His top time in that race came in the Big Ten Championship where he swam his best time of 1:26.59, finishing fourth. Like Kaaki, he also earned Honorable Mention All-American with a 14th-place finish in the 200m freestyle relay.
On the women's side, Nelson, ended her decorated collegiate career as a nine-time All-American. Along with her numerous All-American distinctions, she was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team. This year, she swam to All-American status in two races at the NCAA Championships, the 200m butterfly and 200 freestyle.
Additionally, graduated seniors Sullivan (on the men's side), and Baker and Meehan for the women earned Honorable Mention Scholar All-American status while Myers, a rising senior, did the same.
Scholar All-Americans are selected on the basis of their performance in the pool and classroom. To be selected to the All-American team, swimmers must qualify for the NCAA Championship meet and achieve a GPA of 3.50 or higher. Honorable Mention selections must achieve a NCAA consideration time and 3.50 or higher GPA.
Increased championship participation caps, along with the impact of high-tech suits produced a bumper crop of selections with 471 first-team selections and an additional 430 honorable mentions totaling a record 901 individual certificates.
The University of Florida led the nation with nineteen Scholar All-Americans and sixteen Honorable Mention honorees. Emory University placed seventeen swimmers on the first team while earning an additional nine honorable mentions while Kenyon College picked up fifteen selections and five honorable mentions.