Winter, women’s swim team honored for academic excellence

Taylor Winter
Taylor Winter

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University star Taylor Winter and the women’s team were both honored by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America for academic excellence.

Winter (Bayside, Wis./Nicolet) received honorable mention on the Scholar All-America team, and the Lawrence women’s squad was chosen as a CSCAA Scholar All-America team.

Winter, a senior who earned a degree in environmental science, was one of nine swimmers chosen from the Midwest Conference. To be eligible for the award, a swimmer had to have a minimum 3.50 grade point average and achieved a “B” qualifying standard.

Winter, who won Lawrence’s Ruth Bateman Award for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability and leadership by a female athlete, was chosen for the first time. The swim team captain, Winter won the 1,650-yard freestyle for the second consecutive year at the 2015 Midwest Conference Championships and also finished third in the 500 freestyle. Winter broke her own school record in the 1,650 freestyle and recorded an NCAA “B” cut in the event. She also broke Hayley Vatch’s school record in the 500 freestyle.

To capture the team award, a team had to have a minimum 3.0 GPA during the spring semester. Lawrence’s 21-member women’s swim team posted an impressive 3.33 team GPA. Lawrence was one of five women’s teams from the Midwest Conference to be honored.