College Swim Teams Shine With Academic Honors Nationwide

In a remarkable display of academic excellence, collegiate swim and dive teams across the country have been recognized by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for their outstanding performance in the classroom during the Fall 2025 semester. The announcement, made on January 22, 2026, has shone a spotlight on programs like Kalamazoo College, Southern Illinois University (SIU), and the University of North Florida (UNF), whose student-athletes continue to set the bar high both in and out of the pool.

The CSCAA Scholar All-America Team honor is no small feat. To qualify, teams must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) above 3.0 for the semester—a benchmark that signifies not just athletic prowess, but also a steadfast commitment to academic achievement. This year, the recognition was presented by Fitter and Faster Swim Camps and bestowed upon 709 teams spanning NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and junior and community colleges. The breadth of honorees underscores the growing emphasis on academic standards within collegiate athletics.

Among those leading the charge is Kalamazoo College, where both the men’s and women’s swim and dive teams have been perennial honorees. For the Fall 2025 semester, the men’s team posted a formidable 3.56 GPA, while the women’s team was close behind with a 3.47 GPA. Not only did these marks top the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), but they also continued a remarkable streak for the Hornets: both teams have received the Scholar All-America Team accolade every fall and spring since at least 2015. Consistency like that doesn’t just happen—it’s the result of a culture that values academic rigor as much as athletic excellence.

Southern Illinois University’s swim and dive squads also made a splash in the academic arena. The Salukis’ women’s team posted an impressive 3.57 GPA, and the men’s squad was not far behind at 3.54. Both teams comfortably surpassed the CSCAA’s 3.0 threshold, demonstrating that SIU’s program is about more than just fast times in the pool. This achievement is particularly notable given the competitive landscape of the Missouri Valley Conference, which itself was named a Scholar All-American Conference for Fall 2025. Such recognition for the entire conference speaks volumes about the academic priorities shared by its member institutions.

For SIU, the news is a testament to the university’s holistic approach to student-athlete development. The Salukis’ commitment to academic success is evident not only in their GPA numbers but also in the support structures that help swimmers and divers balance demanding training schedules with rigorous coursework. Fans eager to keep up with SIU’s swim and dive teams can do so across multiple platforms, from X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to the official "Salukis" Mobile App, reflecting a modern, connected approach to collegiate sports engagement.

Meanwhile, the University of North Florida (UNF) women’s swimming team continues to set a gold standard for academic achievement. The Ospreys were honored with the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team distinction for the twelfth consecutive semester—a streak that speaks to a deeply ingrained culture of academic excellence. For Fall 2025, UNF posted a team GPA of 3.56, with every one of their 27 student-athletes earning at least a 3.0 GPA. Even more impressive, four swimmers achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, and 18 surpassed the 3.5 mark.

Head Coach Ian Coffey didn’t mince words when praising his team’s efforts: “Every semester, our student-athletes excel in the classroom. Their work in the classroom is unmatched. It’s a great accomplishment for our program to be recognized by the CSCAA for our academic achievements.” According to Coffey, these results are not just numbers—they’re a reflection of the dedication and discipline that define the Ospreys’ approach to college athletics.

The CSCAA, founded in 1922, has long stood as the nation’s first organization of college coaches, with a mission to advance the sport of swimming and diving through advocacy, leadership, and professional development. Its Scholar All-America Team awards highlight the importance of balancing competitive ambitions with academic responsibilities—a message that resonates now more than ever in collegiate sports.

What’s perhaps most striking about this year’s honorees is the diversity of programs represented. From Kalamazoo’s MIAA-leading squads to SIU’s Missouri Valley Conference standouts and UNF’s consistent Osprey excellence, the list of recipients includes teams from across the collegiate landscape. Each has its own story, but all share a common thread: a belief that success in the pool should go hand in hand with achievement in the classroom.

For Kalamazoo College, the streak of Scholar All-America honors is a point of pride, reflecting years of sustained commitment from athletes, coaches, and academic advisors alike. The Hornets’ ability to maintain such high academic standards over more than a decade is a testament to the program’s culture and leadership. Similarly, SIU’s dual recognition—both for its men’s and women’s teams and for its entire conference—shows that academic excellence is a shared value, not just an individual accomplishment.

At UNF, the numbers speak for themselves, but so does the enthusiasm of Coach Coffey and his staff. The Ospreys’ achievement is especially noteworthy given the size of the team and the consistency with which they’ve reached—or exceeded—the CSCAA’s benchmarks. With all 27 athletes above a 3.0 GPA and a significant portion achieving honors-level marks, UNF has set a bar that many programs will aspire to match in semesters to come.

This season’s CSCAA Scholar All-America Team announcement is more than just a roll call of high GPAs—it’s a celebration of the values that define collegiate athletics at its best. As swimmers and divers across the nation dive back into training and competition, they do so with the knowledge that their hard work in the classroom is being noticed and celebrated. For the programs honored this semester, the accolades are well-earned. For their peers, they’re a challenge: can you keep up?

As the academic and athletic calendars roll forward, all eyes will be on these exemplary teams to see if they can continue their streaks and inspire others to follow suit. For now, though, the recognition from the CSCAA is a fitting reward for a semester’s worth of dedication, discipline, and determination—both in the pool and beyond.