Erin Spadinger Named Honorable Mention Academic All-America

Cowgirl Swimming and Diving achieves 20th highest GPA in the nation.

Wyoming Cowgirl Erin Spadinger is pictured at the 2006 MWC Championships.
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July 13, 2006

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

University of Wyoming swimmer Erin Spadinger was recently named Honorable Mention Academic All-America and the Cowgirl swimming and diving team was named Academic All-America for the 2006 Spring Semester by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.

Spadinger, a senior to be from Midland, Texas, earned Honorable Mention Academic All-America honors after a stellar junior year both in the classroom and in the swimming pool. To be considered an Academic All-American, one must post a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 while also achieving an NCAA "A" or "B" cut during the season. Spadinger earned a 3.60 GPA and swam an NCAA "B" cut in the 200 breaststroke to earn honorable mention status.

"This is a great achievement for Erin," said UW head coach Tom Johnson. "This is a testament to how hard she works both in the classroom and in the pool. This is a very prestigious honor and she is very deserving of it."

Spadinger, a Cowgirl team captain, earned second team All-Mountain West Conference honors in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events at last February's MWC Championships. She also earned second team honors in the 100 breaststroke and 200 medley relay her sophomore year. She has been an MWC Scholar Athlete and Academic All-Conference selection all three years of her career.

The Cowgirls achieved a team cumulative GPA of 3.42, a tie with Clemson University for the 20th highest GPA in the nation, to earn team Academic All-America honors. This is not the first time the Cowgirls have been honored for their team GPA as they also received Academic All-America honors last fall after posting the 24th highest GPA in the nation. They also received the honor during the 2004-05 season.

"I am so proud of our team," added Johnson. "This is a very hard working group of women who show continued improvement both in the classroom and in the pool. I am very fortunate to coach a team like this."