Photo by: Mike McLaughlin
Gwo Receives CSCAA All-America Recognition
4/9/2020 3:09:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Columbia junior Albert Gwo adds All-American to his list of achievements from the 2019-20 campaign
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Columbia junior sprinter Albert Gwo was named to the 2019-20 College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-America team, the organization announced Wednesday.
Gwo had already been named a First Team All-Ivy League honoree after sweeping the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events at the Ivy League Championships. The junior from Mountain View, California, then qualified for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships by way of his school-record 19.32 in the 50 free.
Due to the cancellation of the NCAA Championships, the CSCAA Board adjusted the selection criteria for each Division.
The result was an unprecedented number of selections in what is largely acknowledged as unprecedented circumstances. Greg Earhart, Executive Director explained that the Board of Directors sought to not penalize any student-athlete who had not had the opportunity to compete for a spot on the All-American team. "Our sport is replete with previously-unheralded swimmers and divers who have gone on not just to All-America honors, but also to national championships and Olympic Team spots."
This isn't the first time the association adjusted All-America criteria. The first CSCAA All-America team was published in 1924, thirteen years before the first men's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship. The first women's All-America team was published in 1975, seven years prior to the first NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship. During much of that time, the team was selected by a panel of coaches. In 1985 the honor was standardized around the NCAA Championships with the top eight finalists receiving first-team recognition and consolation finalists being named Honorable Mention.
The Division I All-America team includes all relays achieving 'A' standards, individuals selected to the NCAA Championships, and divers entered in uncontested events from the Zone C Diving Qualification meet.
For the latest on the Columbia men's swimming and diving program, follow @ColumbiaMenSwim on Twitter, @ColumbiaMenSwimming and @ColumbiaDiving on Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Gwo had already been named a First Team All-Ivy League honoree after sweeping the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events at the Ivy League Championships. The junior from Mountain View, California, then qualified for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships by way of his school-record 19.32 in the 50 free.
Due to the cancellation of the NCAA Championships, the CSCAA Board adjusted the selection criteria for each Division.
The result was an unprecedented number of selections in what is largely acknowledged as unprecedented circumstances. Greg Earhart, Executive Director explained that the Board of Directors sought to not penalize any student-athlete who had not had the opportunity to compete for a spot on the All-American team. "Our sport is replete with previously-unheralded swimmers and divers who have gone on not just to All-America honors, but also to national championships and Olympic Team spots."
This isn't the first time the association adjusted All-America criteria. The first CSCAA All-America team was published in 1924, thirteen years before the first men's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship. The first women's All-America team was published in 1975, seven years prior to the first NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship. During much of that time, the team was selected by a panel of coaches. In 1985 the honor was standardized around the NCAA Championships with the top eight finalists receiving first-team recognition and consolation finalists being named Honorable Mention.
The Division I All-America team includes all relays achieving 'A' standards, individuals selected to the NCAA Championships, and divers entered in uncontested events from the Zone C Diving Qualification meet.
For the latest on the Columbia men's swimming and diving program, follow @ColumbiaMenSwim on Twitter, @ColumbiaMenSwimming and @ColumbiaDiving on Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
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