Emory Lillian Ciardelli & Ruth Westby Named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans

Emory University swimming and diving team members Lillian Ciardelli (Hanover, NH) and Ruth Westby (Dunwoody, GA) have been recognized for their outstanding performances, both in the pool and in the classroom by being chosen as ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans.  The voting was conducted by the College of Sports Information Directors (CoSIDA).

The pair, who completed their junior seasons in 2008-09, were chosen to the Women's At Large Third Team.  At the 2009 NCAA Championships, Ciardelli and Westby helped the Eagles to a runner-up finish by combining for three national titles and 14 All-America certificates.   Westby was on the 200- and 800-freestyle relay teams that took home first place while Ciardelli was also part of  the 200-freestyle team.   In addition, each captured All-America acclaim in seven events.

At the UAA Championships, the duo helped Emory to the program's 11th straight league crown with Westby swimming her way to four titles (200-free, 400-free relay, 800-free relay, 400-medley relay) and Ciardelli to three first-place performances (400-free relay, 200-medley relay, 400-medley relay).

Ciardelli recorded a 3.72 grade point average as a psychology major while Westby registered a 3.74 GPA as a biochemistry major.

Ciardelli and Westby are the 112th and 113th Emory student-athletes to receive Academic All-America honors as selected by CoSIDA and the fifth and sixth for the 2008-09 school year. To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.  Women's sports that are grouped into the At Large category include bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.