July 14, 2010

Contact: Greg Murphy

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Recent Cleveland State graduate and standout swimmer Stephen Grove (West Chester, Ohio) was named to the 2009-10 College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division I All-Academic Team that was announced late last week.

Grove, who graduated in May with a degree in mechanical engineering, maintained a 3.79 grade point average during his college career.

"This is a well-deserved honor for Stephen," head coach Wally Morton said. "By any definition, he epitomized what a student-athlete is when you combine his academic and athletic accomplishments. We all wish him the best of luck in his future career as a nuclear engineer for the United States Navy."

It is the second academic award that Grove has earned in the last six weeks after he was named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District At Large First Team in late May.

Grove, who finished his career with CSU records in the 50 freestyle (20.09) and the 100 butterfly (48.60), also holds an all-time top-10 time in the 100 free (9th, 45.78). He was an instrumental part in four of the Viking relays that set all-time top-five times this season.

Grove advanced to the finals in all three of his individual events at the Horizon League Championship this season, finishing third in the 100 fly (48.85), fourth in the 50 free (20.69) and fifth in the 100 back (51.71).

Also at the league championship, Grove led the 200 medley relay (1:29.29) and the 200 free relay (1:21.28) to league titles as well as NCAA "B" cut times and the second and fourth fastest times in Cleveland State history respectively.

With the 200 medley relay victory, Grove became a four-time Horizon League Champion in the event, leading the relay to a championship record last season (1:27.58).