Evanston, Ill. - Both of Lenoir-Rhyne University's Men's and Women's Swimming Teams garnered Scholar All-American accolades for the fall semester of 2011. The award is presented by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).
The L-R Men's Swimming Team compiled a grade point average of 3.42 during the fall semester, second-best in NCAA Division II behind only Pace University (3.44). Meanwhile, the Lenoir-Rhyne women's squad sported a fall GPA mark of 3.23.
To be eligible for Team Scholar All-American status, a squad must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester.
All total, 42 women's NCAA Division II Women's Teams earned the honor while 17 men's squads garnered a 3.0 mark or higher during the fall semester.
Both teams recently finished with their highest places ever at the 2012 Bluegrass Mountain Conference Championships in Charlotte, N.C. The women's squad placed seventh overall while the men took 10th-place at the league meet.
In addition, three L-R swimmers - senior Lindsay Atkin (Hickory, N.C.) and freshman Kyle Hites (Lenoir, N.C.) and Chelsea Kyle (Knoxville, Tenn.) - became the school's first-ever All-Bluegrass Mountain Conference honorees in 2012.
Kyle is Lenoir-Rhyne's first-ever outright conference champion (the 2012 winner in the 200-yard butterfly) and could soon compete in the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving National Championships on March 14-17 in Mansfield, Texas.
Kyle would compete in the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley races. The official announcement is scheduled for Wednesday.