Newport News, Va. – (March 21, 2019) – The Atlantic 10 Conference announced its Academic All-Conference teams for swimming & diving this week.   Among those honored included senior Tara Brunner (New Canaan, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy), sophomore Bayley Frierson (Cumming, Ga./South Forsyth), and junior Christopher Sleutjes (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame).  This is the first time that each Ram has been named to the Academic All-Conference team.
 
The Academic All-Conference teams are comprised of student-athletes who were selected based on their athletic and academic performance. To be nominated, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for their entire academic career. The teams were selected through voting conducted by the league's Sports Information Directors.
 
Brunner, who holds a 3.70 GPA and is majoring in Public Accountancy, had an incredible senior season, earning Atlantic 10 Performer of the Week twice during the regular season, and then became only the second Ram to earn seven medals in a single Atlantic 10 Championship.  She earned First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors as a part of the winning 200 medley relay, while receiving Second Team All-League honors in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, the 100 butterfly, and the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.  She also set school records in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, as well as the 400 freestyle relay.  Later, Brunner participated in the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, where she scored 31 points in four events, highlighted by a bronze medal finish in the 100 freestyle.
 
Frierson, who holds a 3.90 GPA and is majoring in Biological Sciences, scored in all three events she competed in at the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship.  She placed fifth in the 1650 freestyle and eighth in the 500 freestyle, while she won the "B" final of the 400 individual medley for ninth overall.
 
Sleutjes, who holds a 4.00 GPA and is majoring in Finance, had a very good season for the Rams as Fordham's top distance swimmer.  He scored in three of the four events he took part in at the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship, placing 13^th in both the 500 and 1650 freestyle events, while taking eighth as a part of the 800 freestyle relay team.