COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. – The Ursinus College swimming programs continued to cement themselves as some of the most successful in the country – both in and out of the pool – with the selection of six student-athletes to the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team.
Class of 2019 member Clara Baker joined rising senior Haley Sturla, rising junior Sophie May, and rising sophomores Sophie Lear and Katie Schultz on the first team, giving the women's team a school-record five such performers after garnering three a year ago.
Rising senior Jacob Menzer represented the men's team in receiving honorable mention, officially making Ursinus the only Centennial Conference program to place both men and women on the list. The award recognizes students that have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and competed at their respective NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
Already the most accolade-laden athlete in program history, Baker becomes the first Ursinus women's swimmer to collect three first team Scholar All-America certificates. She won the 100 fly and 200 fly at the CC championships before tacking on five All-America laurels at the NCAA meet to make it an even dozen for her career.
May is a Scholar All-American for the second time in as many seasons after another sensational campaign that included a conference crown in the 200 free and four relay titles. May matched Baker with five All-America honors at nationals, giving her seven for her career.
Sturla joined Baker, Lear, and senior Peyten Lyons to win the 400 medley relay at the conference championship. Sturla teamed with Lyons, Baker, and May to place 12th in the event at nationals for her first All-America nod.
Lear exploded onto the scene as one of the most talented rookies in all of Division III, corralling Most Outstanding Performer and Most Outstanding Rookie Performer honors at the CC championship meet, where she won the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 breast. She was a member of three All-America relays at the national championship.
Schultz won the 400 IM and was part of the first-place 800 free relay squad at the CC meet.
Menzer is now a third time honorable mention Scholar All-American after capturing gold in the 500 free at the CC championship to become only the sixth individual champion in school history.