COLORADO SPRING, Colo. – Three members of the Washington State University women's swimming team earned CSCAA Scholar All-America honors after the Spring 2019 semester, the CSCAA announced recently.

Senior Linnea Lindberg, sophomore Taylor McCoy and freshman Lauren Burckel each earned Scholar All-American honorable mention accolades. The award recognizes students that have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and competed at their respective swimming and diving postseason championships.

As a team, WSU earned CSCAA Scholar All-America Team honors after posting a 3.45 GPA in the Spring 2019 semester, the third-highest team GPA among Pac-12 Conference schools. The Cougars have a history of academic achievement, as this is their seventh-straight Scholar All-America Team honor and No. 17 all-time. The CSCAA Scholar All-America Team awards recognize teams that have achieved a grade-point-average of 3.00 or higher and maintain a roster of 12 or more student-athletes.

"Our academic and athletic goals go hand in hand at WSU. We believe in family first, academics second and competing at the highest level third," head coach Matt Leach said. "Our program as a whole and individually continues to excel in the classroom and in the pool and we are very proud of that."

Lindberg produced a 3.83 GPA in her final semester at WSU and capped her senior campaign by winning the 50 breast at the National Invitational Championships. The Stockholm, Sweden native also earned Pac-12 Conference All-Academic honor mention and recorded four wins in the 100 breast throughout the season.

"Linnea, our lone senior finished on the highest of highs. She finished with her highest marks in the classroom this year, dropped her time in her primary events and won the NIC Championship in the 50 yard breaststroke," Leach added.  "A few days ago, Linnea finished third at the Swedish National championship! A true cougar in the classroom, weight room and pool!"
 
McCoy owns a 3.86 cumulative GPA in her first two years at WSU and recently posted a 4.00 GPA this past spring. The Pullman, Wash. native earned Pac-12 All-Academic first-team honors this past season while leading the team with 14 wins highlighted by winning the program's first Pac-12 Swimming of the Week Award after recording three wins against No. 14 Arizona and another against No. 25 Arizona State. At the NIC Championships, McCoy finished four in the 200 back.
 
"A swimmer through and through, Taylor not only excels in the pool but she also carries herself in the same way in the classroom," Leach said. "She is able to blend academics and athletics so that both disciplines are done at the highest levels. Taylor's dedication to WSU, her academic and athletic achievements makes her a valuable part of our family."
 
Burckel posted a 3.79 GPA in her first collegiate year and placed four in the 200 breast at the NIC Championships. The Albuquerque, N.M. native also recorded the third-fastest time in WSU history in the 200 breast at the Pac-12 Conference Championships.

"Lauren had an outstanding year in the classroom and pool. Her character shines everywhere she goes and for her to earn this honor as a freshman is a true testament to her hard work," Leach added. "Lauren is a team player and someone who is an important part of our culture. I am sure you will continue to see her name winning awards in the classroom and out over the next three years at WSU."