AUSTIN, Texas – IUP women's swimming graduate student
Paige Mikesell was named the 2022-23 College Sports Communications (CSC) Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year, representing NCAA Division II, the organization announced Monday.
She is one of four standouts in the pool and the classroom names the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for their respective divisions, joining Virginia's Lexi Cuomo (NCAA DI), Emory's Taylor Leone (NCAA DIII) and Cumberland's Hannah te Velthuis (NAIA) to earn the prestigious accolade.
Mikesell, a graduate student from Clearfield, Pa., is a 17-time All-American after earning All-American certificates in six events at the 2023 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving National Championships in the 100 butterfly and the 200 IM. A three-time CSC Academic All-American, Mikesell was a First Team selection to the Academic All-America team in 2020-21, and a third team honoree in 2019-20.
She placed fifth in the 100 butterfly, along with sixth-place showings in the 200 freestyle and 200 IM. She set school-record times in both the 100 butterfly (53.45) and 200 IM (2:00.82) in the prelims.
Mikesell was a four-time All-American in the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 freestyle. She defended her Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crown in the 200 IM, giving her 12 PSAC championships. She also helped the 800 freestyle relay to a podium finish with a second-place showing. She is health & physical education major with a perfect 4.0 GPA both as an undergraduate and graduate student.
Rachel Johnson was also named to the CSC Academic All-America® First Team, recognized for her combined performances in the pool and in the classroom. IUP is one of just three schools in DII to have multiple selections to the first team, as the dynamic duo of Mikesell and Johnson capped one of the top seasons in program history in 2022-23.
Johnson, a Mohnton, Pa. native, is pursuing her master's degree in human relations & employee management with a 4.0 GPA. Johnson earned the PSAC Champion Scholar award at the 2022-23 conference swimming championships, later earning the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 award in March.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
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