August 21, 2007
(release courtesy of Dave Blanchard, Luther College sports information director)

DECORAH, IOWA . . . The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) have presented both the Luther College men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams the Academic All-American Team Award.

To earn this honor, a team must have a combined grade point average (gpa) of 2.80 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Three levels of awards are presented based on a team’s gpa, 2.80 – 2.99 Commendable, 3.00 – 3.24 Excellent, 3.25 and above Superior.

The women’s team received an excellent rating with a team gpa of 3.26. The men received a commendable rating with a team gpa of 2.91. Luther was the only Iowa Conference school to be represented on this year’s list.

This past year, both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams captured Iowa Conference championships. The men won their third in a row and fourth in the past five years, while the women won their third consecutive league title. Both teams are coached by six-time Iowa Conference Coach of the Year Lance Huber.

Luther College, a four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, is located in Decorah, Iowa. The Norse compete in 10 men's and nine women's intercollegiate sports.

As a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) since 1922, the men have won 140 conference championships. In 1982 the IIAC expanded its championship sponsorship to include women’s sports. During this time span, the women have won 54 team titles. Combined, the Norse have captured an unmatched 194 IIAC title.

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