June 22, 2016 Duquesne University swimmers senior Samantha Ray (Durham, N.C./C.E. Jordan), sophomore Lexi Santer (Wilmington, Dela./Charter School of Wilmington) and freshman Abigail Stauffer (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) have been named to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American Honorable Mention team.
"This is great recognition for our program and university," said head coach David Sheets. "It signifies not only our commitment to athletic excellence in the pool but first and foremost our commitment to excelling academically in the classroom. Congratulations to Abby, Lexi and Sam on this deserving award."
Ray set an Atlantic 10 and school record in winning the 100-yard freestyle at the Atlantic 10 Championship with an NCAA "B" cut time of 49.47. The physical therapy major with a 3.54 cumulative grade point average also took bronze at A-10's in the 50 free with a personal best time of 23.10 and broke her own school record in the 200 freestyle with a fourth place showing at A-10's in 1:48.37. In addition, she was on the A-10 gold medal winning 200 freestyle relay with a school record time of 1:32.61 and helped the Dukes win a silver medal and break a school record in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:21.78.
Santer, an occupational therapy major with a 3.64 gpa, was named the Atlantic 10 champion in the 200 backstroke with a school record and NCAA "B" standard time of 1:58.00. She also took bronze at the Atlantic 10 Championship in the 400 IM with a time of 4:20.83, finished sixth at A-10's in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:56.44, helped the Dukes finish second and break a school record in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:21.78 and helped the Red and Blue place fourth in the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:45.65.
Stauffer posted an NCAA "B" cut time at Cleveland State's Magnus Cup Invitational as she won the 200 breaststroke in 2:15.63. A nursing major with a 3.75 gpa, she also turned in a fourth place showing at the Atlantic 10 Championship in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:02.13 and placed fourth in the 200 breaststroke at A-10's in 2:16.77.
To be selected to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, swimmers and divers must have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and have participated in their respective NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Honorable Mention selections have similarly achieved a GPA of 3.50 and achieved a "B" time standard or competed at their respective qualifying meets
