Sept. 7, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Eight members of the Notre Dame women's swimming and diving team have been honored by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for their academic achievements during the 1998-99 season.

Current team members, seniors Elizabeth Barger and Shannon Suddarth, along with 1999 graduate Brittany Kline, garnered CSCAA All-Academic first team honors. Barger, a two-time All-American, posted a 3.73 grade-point average last year as an American studies major, while Suddarth, a four-time All-American, earned a 3.50 GPA last year as a marketing major. Kline, meanwhile, garnered All-America status as a member of the team's 200 medley relay and completed her senior year with a 3.88 grade-point average in management information systems.

Five other members of the 1998-99 Notre Dame women's swimming and diving team also earned honorable mention honors from the CSCAA, including divers junior Jessica Johnstone (3.84 - psychology) and senior Gina Ketelhohn (3.50 - management information systems) and swimmers Kathleen Rimkus (3.75 - math), Brooke Davey (3.67 - First Year of Studies) and Laura Shepard (3.62 - finance).

Overall, Notre Dame's three members on the first team were the third-most of any university, while Notre Dame's five on the honorable mention team were the second-most behind Kentucky, which led with seven selections.

To qualify as a CSCAA All-Academic team member, the student must qualify to participate in the NCAA, NAIA or JC Swimming and Diving National Championships, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and have completed the equivalent of 24 semester hours at the institution they represented during the year. Honorable Mention All-Academic team members must have achieved a provisional NCAA qualifying standard and also have a 3.5 GPA.