Nov. 5, 2008

PHOENIX - The College Swimming Coaches Association of America named nine Bobcats to the Honorable Mention Academic All-America Team for the 2007-2008 season. The nine swimmers honored mark the most in program history for one year.

Graduated seniors Mallory Rico and Emily Wylam, and current Bobcats Ashley Marion (London, Ontario), a senior sport management major, Chelsey Bower (Bethel Park, Pa.), a junior finance major, Leah Giancarli (Akron, Ohio), a junior health care and communications major, Amanda Cecere (Chelmsford, Mass.), a sophomore health service administration major, Rachel Heim (San Diego, Calif.), a sophomore biochemistry major, Stacey Huber (Gainesville, Fla.), a sophomore fine arts major, and Amanda Traylor (Los Alamitos, Calif.), a sophomore exercise physiology major, were all honored for their efforts last season.

"We have a very special group here on campus and specifically last year's team," Ohio head coach Greg Werner said. "Not only did they excel in the pool and on the diving board, but in the classroom. I think the honor is a tribute to their maturity, focus, desire and dedication."

All nine Bobcats had a 3.5 GPA or better for the year, with Bower and Giancarli also being named Academic All-MAC. The nine 'Cats honored were far and away the most of any Mid-American Conference women's team, as Buffalo and Miami each placed one on the list and were the only other schools to be recognized.

As a team, the 2007-08 squad was named an Academic All-America team by the CSCAA, in addition to winning the 2008 MAC Championship, with a 3.424 team GPA, the 17th-highest GPA of all Division I women's swim teams last season. Only Eastern Michigan had a better team GPA of MAC schools, finishing five spots ahead of Ohio.

Ohio's women's swim team has now produced 22 Academic All-Americans in the program's history.