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Seven Cougar Swimmers Earn All-Academic Honors

Apr 14, 2001

PULLMAN, Wash. - Sophomore Jill Olson garnered Pacific-10 Conference first team All-Academic honors, while Melissa Hubley made the second team, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced Friday.

"It's nice to see these students honored for their academic achievements, because that's what they are here for," WSU swimming coach Rocco Aceto said. "It's difficult for student-athletes because there is a fine line between having to perform in the pool and perform in the classroom."

Olson (Seattle, Wash.) carries a 3.85 grade-point average and is pursuing a major in accounting. This season she played an important role in guiding the Washington State swim team to its best finish at the Pac-10 Championships and first dual-meet win over intrastate rival Washington. Olson placed 15th in the 1,650 freestyle and secured second place on the school's all-time list for that event with a time of 17:03.65 at the Pac-10 Championships in February. She also holds second place on the school's list for the 1,000 freestyle and sixth for the 500 freestyle.

Hubley, a sophomore from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, holds a 3.40 GPA pursuing a double major in psychology and sociology. This season, Hubley broke her own school record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:00.36 en route to placing fifth at the Pac-10 Championships and qualifying for the NCAA Championships. At the NCAA's in East Meadow, N.Y., she placed 25th in the 200 butterfly and 36th in the 100 butterfly. It marked the fourth consecutive season the Cougar swim team has sent an athlete to the NCAA Championships. Hubley also secured second place on WSU's all-time list for the 100 butterfly, finishing 15th at Pac-10's with a time of 55.75.

Other Cougar honorees included senior Carrie Breed (Port Orchard, Wash.), and sophomores Rachelle Carano (Reno, Nev.), Rebecca Cohen (Portland, Ore.), Lindsay Henahan (Rochester, N.Y.), and Sara Schmied (Woodinville, Wash.), who all earned honorable mentions.

To be eligible for the Pac-10 All-Academic team athletes must have a class standing of sophomore or older. With ten freshman on the team this year, WSU has only seven swimmers who are sophomores or older, so all eligible Cougar swimmers made the Pac-10 team.