Megan Polaha and Steve Sholdra Named CSCAA Scholar Athletes

Bronx, N.Y. - The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) has selected over 1,600 swimmers and divers for its Scholar All-America team, including Fordham's Steve Sholdra and Megan Polaha who were Honorable Mention selections. The selections recognize students that have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and have participated in their respective NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships or who achieved a "B" time standard or competed at a regional or zone qualifying meet.
 
Highlighting the selections were 218 students who, through June 12th, have qualified for the USA Olympic Team Trials. The qualifiers for the USA Olympic Team Trials- Diving begin Monday, June 20 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis and continue through June 26th. U.S.A. Olympic Team Trials- Swimming will take place June 26-July 3 before a sold-out CenturyLink Center in Omaha.
 
In addition to the 853 first-team selections, 894 students were named as Honorable Mention selections.  These students have similarly achieved a GPA of 3.50 and achieved a "B" time standard or competed at a regional or zone qualifying meet.  Of these, an additional 135 students will be in Indianapolis or Omaha vying for a spot on the United States Olympic team.
 
Sholdra, who graduated in May with a degree in International Political Economy and Middle Eastern studies with minors in Arabic and Marketing, was a four-year member of the Atlantic 10 commissioner's honor roll and a three-time Academic All-Atlantic 10 selection. This year he won the 400 IM (3:51.75) and 200 butterfly (1:47.10) at the Atlantic 10 Championship to earn first team All-Conference honors, setting the Atlantic 10 200 fly record in the process. Sholdra also set the Fordham 200 fly, 400 IM and 500 free records (4:26.27) this year, posting NCAA "B" cut times in the 200 fly and 400 IM.
 
Polaha, a senior-to-be, won the 200 IM (2:00.85) and 200 fly (1:58.46) at the 2016 Atlantic 10 Championships to earn first team all-conference honors in both races. She also earned second team honors with a second place finish in the 400 IM (4:16.55). Her times in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 fly were all NCAA "B" cut times and she set the Atlantic 10 record in the 200 fly while also setting new school marks in the 200 and 400 IM as well as the 200 fly.
 
"The 200,000+ spectators attending trials are seeing more than just the best swimmers and divers in the world," said CSCAA executive director Joel Shinofield, "they're seeing some of the brightest minds in the nation."  Even those who don't make the Olympic team, Shinofield notes, are headed for success.  CSCAA research indicates that nearly a quarter of all college swimming and diving alumni report earning more than $110,000 annually.  "These are your future doctors, local business owners, scientists and educators."
 
The selections were drawn from 247 colleges and universities.  That, Shinofield explains, illustrates the widespread contributions of swimming and diving.  "This really shows that success isn't limited to the 'traditional' powers.  We've got coaches, athletes and institutions doing some great things in places you wouldn't expect and is something we're very proud of."
 
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) – 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.