AUSTIN, Tex. – IUP women's swimmers have added yet another impressive feat to their year as three were named to the 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II At-Large team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and announced on Thursday.
Graduate student
Claire Mikesell and rising seniors
Rachel Johnson and
Paige Mikesell were all first team selections for this highly respected, competitive, and distinguished award.
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
The at-large team for the CoSIDA Academic All-America® program includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo for both men and women; bowling, crew and field hockey for women; and volleyball and wrestling for men.
IUP's trio of women's swimmers were among 15 first team selections from across all of NCAA Division II. Each first team selection boasted a cumulative grade point average of 3.88 or higher, with 12 earning a perfect 4.0 GPA as either an undergraduate or graduate student.
A total of 47 women's selections across three teams (15 first, 15 second, 17 third) were announced.
IUP is the only school to boast three first team Academic All-America® selections – men or women – on the at-large team. This also marks the first time that three IUP student-athletes from the same program earned Academic All-America® honors in the same year.
P. Mikesell continues big year
For
Paige Mikesell, this is her second career CoSIDA Academic All-America® selection, earning third team honors as a sophomore after the 2019-20 year.
The Clearfield, Pa. native finished her junior year this spring with a perfect 4.0 GPA in health and physical education. She was the NCAA Division II individual champion in the 200 freestyle, earned All-American honors in seven events, won conference titles in seven events, and led IUP to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) team title this spring.
She broke five IUP records, two conference marks, and one PSAC championship meet record.
In addition to Academic All-America® honors, Mikesell was also named the PSAC's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was a PSAC Spring/Winter Top 12 selection, and was named the conference's women's swimmer of the year.
Johnson, C. Mikesell earn first career CoSIDA honors
After landing on CoSIDA's Academic All-District® At-Large Team for the first time earlier this summer, both Johnson and
Claire Mikesell are first time All-America selections for CoSIDA.
Johnson also owns a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average as a hospitality management major. From Mohnton, Pa., she earned All-American honors in five events at the NCAA Championships, finishing 10th in the 100 breaststroke and helped three relays break school records. Johnson wrapped up her season with three individual second place finishes at the PSAC Championships.
Claire Mikesell posted a 4.0 grade point average in her health & physical education master's program after graduating in Spring 2020 with a 3.91 GPA in the same program. The older Mikesell earned All-American honors in five events at the NCAA Championships, including a second place finish in the 200 breaststroke. She also won two individual titles and had six all-conference finishes at the PSAC Championships.
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