Date: July 27, 2004
Contact: Brian Laubscher (540) 458-8676
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L SWIMMING EARNS ACADEMIC HONORS
Three Generals Garner Academic All-America Honors

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) released its Spring 2004 Academic All-America Teams and Washington and Lee University was well represented.

Both the Generals' men's and women's teams were cited as Academic All-America teams after posting team grade-point averages (GPA) in excess of the minimum 2.80. The men totaled a 3.496 team GPA to finish second nationally in team GPA, just slightly behind Washington University. The women amassed a 3.476 team GPA. Additionally, senior Eric Ritter (Birmingham, Ala./Mountain Brook) and freshman Michael Ginder (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal) garnered Academic All-America honors, while junior Chris Colby (Ossining, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) was named Honorable Mention Academic All-American.

The appointment to the team was Ritter's fourth-straight after he earned All-America honors in the 100 and 200 backstroke this past spring. He also earned Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship to study at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. All told, Ritter earned All-America honors five times during his career and graduated holding four school records.

Ginder earned the award after a freshman season which saw him garner All-America honors in the 100 and 200 freestyle events. Additionally, he set school records in the 200 free and 200 medley relay en route to being named the Bluegrass Mountain Conference Swimmer of the Year and W&L Freshman Male Athlete of the Year.

Colby was named to the honorable mention team after earning All-Bluegrass Mountain Conference honors this spring. He posted the team's best times in the 100 and 200 butterfly events and swam an NCAA "B" cut time in the 100 fly.

The Washington and Lee men's team posted a 7-0 record in dual meets and claimed the inaugural Bluegrass Mountain Championship. The W&L women's squad went 7-4 overall and took its 11th straight ODAC Championship.

-- GENERALS --