Springfield, Ohio – One day after Wittenberg University’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams garnered recognition from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as recipients of Scholar All-America Team awards for the spring 2015 semester, senior AJ Burt (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) put the finishing touches on his collegiate career with individual honorable mention Scholar All-America honors.
To be selected to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, swimmers and divers must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.50 and have participated in their respective NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Honorable mention selections have achieved the same grade point average and achieved a provisional qualifying standard, better known as a “B” cut.
“This award means a great deal to me, and it is indicative of two things that I am so grateful for as a new alumnus,” said Burt, who recently accepted a position working in Wittenberg’s Office of Advancement. “I am grateful for the intellectually driven culture on Wittenberg’s campus, charged by our unparalleled professors, and I am grateful for our coaches’ leadership styles, which are unconditionally sensitive and supportive of our needs to succeed in the classroom, in the pool, and in our extracurricular activities.
“The commitment of the professors and our coaches positive impacted the dedication of our entire team, both men and women. It is easy to be successful on a team where you are surrounded by excellence.”
Both Tiger teams posted dual meet records of 6-3 in the 2014-15 season before finishing fifth in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship meet, which included four nationally ranked men’s teams and three nationally ranked women’s squads. Individual highlights included Burt, senior James Dumstorf (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) and junior Stephen Stuthers (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) earning NCAA Division III B cut times during the 2014-15 season, and freshman Kaitlyn Black (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) earned a pair of All-NCAC awards in the women’s diving events and qualified for the NCAA Division III Regional competition.
The 2015-16 season opens with the annual NCAC Relay Meet on Saturday, Oct. 17, hosted by Kenyon College. The dual meet campaign kicks off a week later with a home meet against the College of Wooster.
Written By: Ryan Maurer