BALTIMORE (July 1) – A trio of Vulcan swimmers – freshman
Marianne Juhl (Virum, Denmark/Virum Gymnasium), senior
Lea Mastascusa (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and senior
April Staniszewski (South Park, Pa./South Park) – and the California University of Pennsylvania swimming team received Scholar All-America honors by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) on Wednesday.
The Vulcans were one of 22 women’s swimming teams in NCAA Division II to meet the requirement of a team grade-point average of 3.00 or higher. Cal U posted a team GPA of 3.11 during the Spring 2009 semester to earn CSCAA Academic All-America laurels for the seventh-straight season.
Juhl, Mastascusa and Staniszewski were three of 63 women swimmers in Division II to earn individual Scholar All-America honors by posting a GPA of 3.50 or higher. This marks the first time in program history that the Vulcans featured multiple individual Scholar All-Americans.
Juhl, who was named the PSAC Women’s Freshman of the Year, earned NCAA All-America honors in the 1650 freestyle at the 2009 NCAA Division II Championships. She also competed in both the 500 and 1,000 freestyle at the national championships.
Mastascusa competed at the NCAA Championships as an individual in the 100 and 200 backstroke and swam on the 400 medley relay team. Staniszewski also swam on the 400 medley relay and raced in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke and 400 IM at the national championships.
To earn the individual honor, student-athletes most earn a 3.5 GPA and reach a NCAA "A" qualifying-time standard. Fewer than six percent of all collegiate swimmers and divers reached the distinction of being named a Scholar All-American.