April 9, 2009

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2008-09 swimming and diving season came to a close with the Vikings' first NCAA All-American two weeks ago, but the honors for the team keeps rolling in. The men's swimmers and divers combined for a 3.07 grade point average during the Fall 2008 semester, earning Academic All-American Team honors from the College Swim Coaches Association of America.

"The men's Swimming & Diving Team receiving recognition as an `Academic All-American Team' is one of the highest honors we can receive," head coach Wally Morton said. "Added to our NCAA Division I All-American award for Jakub Dobies, it legitimizes athletic performance at the elite level. We have had an outstanding year with much to be proud of. The College Swimming Coaches Association and the NCAA have great regard for Cleveland State University as one of the top swimming and diving programs in the nation."

The Vikings' 3.07 GPA tied with Saint Louis University and the University of Florida for the 27th-best team Fall 2008 GPA. Gardner-Webb University recorded a 3.33 GPA to lead the Division I men's squads.

As a group, the Vikings had one of their most successful seasons in school history. The school and the Horizon League garnered their first NCAA All-America honor behind the 13th place finish of Dobies in the 100 breast and CSU led all league schools with five NCAA "B" cuts this season.

On the year, the Vikings set new school records in 10 different events including the 50 free (Stephen Grove, 20.09), 100 free (Dobies, 44.53), 1,000 free (Mark deSwardt, 9:01.46), 1,650 free (deSwardt, 15:02.06), 100 fly (Grove, 48.60) and the 100 breast (Dobies, 52.94) as well as the 200 free relay (1:19.50), 400 free relay (3:00.45), 200 medley relay (1:27.58) and the 400 medley relay (3:16.72). The 50 free, 1,000 free, 1,650 free, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay times were also new Horizon League records.