The Maryland women’s swimming and diving team ranked first in the Athletic Department’s women’s GPA rankings in the first semester of the 2011-2012 school year with a combined mark of 3.2. The Maryland men’s swim team ranked 2nd among all Maryland men’s teams with a 3.0. The huge GPA came despite a distraction-filled semester where the swimmers learned that the program was slated to be cut.
Among other academic achievements during an emotional semester –
- 4 athletes with a perfect 4.0 GPA (3 men, 1 woman)
- 13 students on the Dean’s List (7 women, 6 men)
- Both programs have combined, cumulative GPA’s above 3.0
There is still work to be done in College Park, as I think that everyone recognizes that the teams can’t be operating at a $1 million deficit. Still, the swimmers are doing an outstanding job at making themselves as valuable as possible to the university.
This is an awesome feat of academic excellence in the face of adversity. The teams managed to keep their grades high despite all of the distractions. Meanwhile, they began embarking upon a journey to raise millions of dollars to try and save their program, which in itself is no small feat.
This Maryland team is really doing everything it can to make itself as valuable as possible to the Athletics Department and University, which is going to be a key to their efforts towards salvation.
Oh yeah, and they’re a combined 11-5 in dual meets (women 8-1).