Three Panthers Named to the CSCAA 2020 All-America Team
4/8/2020 11:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
PITTSBURGH—Three Panthers from the University of Pittsburgh swimming & diving team were honored as 2020 All-Americans by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) on Wednesday after not having the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Championships this year due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.
Pitt sophomore divers Serena Buchwald and Amy Read along with junior swimmer Blaise Vera each received their first career All-America recognitions with Wednesday's CSCAA announcement. Each athlete was set to compete at the NCAA Championships after stellar seasons for the Panthers.
"This is a great honor for our athletes," Pitt head coach John Hargis said. "It obviously wasn't the way that we wanted their seasons to end because they were each primed to compete at the NCAA Championships this year. They poured their hearts into all aspects of the sport, and I truly feel as though we were going to have some unreal performances at NCAAs. The positive thing is that they all have remaining eligibility and another shot next year."
"This recognition is a result of a year of hard work and dedication," said Pitt diving coach Katie Hazelton. "Although we were certainly disappointed to not be able to compete at NCAAs, earning All-America status is a great reward and a demonstration of the level of excellence that we want our athletes to strive toward. We're very proud of both Amy and Serena and can't wait to see what the future holds as they enter their junior seasons."
Buchwald was set to make her first appearance at the NCAA Championships, while Read qualified for the second consecutive season. Both had earned a trip to the national women's meet in Athens, Ga., as platform divers after dominating the NCAA Zone A Diving Meet in the event.
Vera was also a second-year NCAA qualifier. After posting some of the fastest times in the nation this season, he was primed to contend for finals in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle sprints.
The CSCAA, which also selects the Top 25 teams in the sport throughout each season, has been awarding All-America status to swimming and diving student-athletes across the nation since 1924.
#H2P | #H2oP | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Pitt sophomore divers Serena Buchwald and Amy Read along with junior swimmer Blaise Vera each received their first career All-America recognitions with Wednesday's CSCAA announcement. Each athlete was set to compete at the NCAA Championships after stellar seasons for the Panthers.
"This is a great honor for our athletes," Pitt head coach John Hargis said. "It obviously wasn't the way that we wanted their seasons to end because they were each primed to compete at the NCAA Championships this year. They poured their hearts into all aspects of the sport, and I truly feel as though we were going to have some unreal performances at NCAAs. The positive thing is that they all have remaining eligibility and another shot next year."
"This recognition is a result of a year of hard work and dedication," said Pitt diving coach Katie Hazelton. "Although we were certainly disappointed to not be able to compete at NCAAs, earning All-America status is a great reward and a demonstration of the level of excellence that we want our athletes to strive toward. We're very proud of both Amy and Serena and can't wait to see what the future holds as they enter their junior seasons."
Buchwald was set to make her first appearance at the NCAA Championships, while Read qualified for the second consecutive season. Both had earned a trip to the national women's meet in Athens, Ga., as platform divers after dominating the NCAA Zone A Diving Meet in the event.
Vera was also a second-year NCAA qualifier. After posting some of the fastest times in the nation this season, he was primed to contend for finals in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle sprints.
The CSCAA, which also selects the Top 25 teams in the sport throughout each season, has been awarding All-America status to swimming and diving student-athletes across the nation since 1924.
#H2P | #H2oP | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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