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Swimmers scholar All-Americans

Four Simon Fraser University athletes earn individual recognition by national body
Burnaby Now
N Cossey
Simon Fraser University varsity swimmer Nicole Cossey was named a scholar All-American along with schoolmate Elizabeth Durward this week.

The College Swimming Coaches Association of America selected Nicole Cossey and Elizabeth Durward to its scholar All-America team and the Clan women’s swimming and diving program was designated as a scholar All-America team after compiling a 3.15 cumulative team grade point average.

A record 810 swimmers and divers were named scholar All-Americans. 

Cossey and Durward led the Clan women's team to 12th place at the NCAA Division II nationals in March, its highest finish ever.

Cossey, a native of Innisfail, Alta., was a two-time All-American in 2015 in the women's 400-metre medley and 800m freestyle relays. She was also 12th in the 50-yard free and 14th in the 100-yds. free. Cossey boasts a 3.90 GPA.

Durward, from Victoria, qualified for her second straight nationals, where she had a career-best 12th-place finish in the one-metre diving event and was 19th at three metres. Durward carries a 4.00 grade point average.

An additional 1,078 swimmers and divers were recognized as honorable-mention selections, including SFU’s Hans Heyer and Dimitar Ivanov. 

“Swimmers and divers truly embody the student-athlete ethos and are well-known for earning some of the highest GPAs on campus,” said association executive director Joel Shinofield. “With nearly half of all national championship qualifiers producing GPA’s higher than 3.50, you see swimming and diving adds so much to value to a campus community. These accomplishments are impressive and a sign of the success they will carry on through life, positively representing their schools along the way.”

To be selected to the scholar All-America team, swimmers and divers must have achieved a GPA of 3.50 or higher and have participated in their respective national swimming and diving championships. 

Founded in 1922, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America – the oldest organization of college coaches in America - is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming & diving at the collegiate level.