Emory Swimming's Westby and Ciardelli Earn Academic All-District Honors

Juniors Lillian Ciardelli and Ruth Westby, members of the Emory University women's swimming and diving team, were named to the ESPN The Magazine/ CoSIDA Academic All-District first team for their work both in the pool and the classroom during the 2009 season.  By virtue of being named to the first team, both will be placed on the Academic all-America ballot.

Ciardelli won the first National Championship of her career this season as part of the Eagles' 200-yard freestyle relay team, in addition to earning all-America honors in six other events and helping the team to a second-place finish.  She has recorded a 3.722 cumulative grade point average while majoring in psychology.  This is Ciardelli's first academic all-district honor.

Westby won National Championships in the 200-yard and 800-yard freestyle relays, and now has three National Titles during her career.  In addition, she earned seven all-America honors in 2009, and the 20 all-America certificates she has won during her career are the most in the program's history.  Westby has registered a 3.739 grade point average during her time at Emory.

Westby and Ciardelli were named to the ‘At-Large' team, which encompasses student-athletes from 13 different women's sports.

Voting for the Academic All-District 3 team is conducted by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.  To be eligible, a nominee must have completed at least one year at their respective institution with a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key reserve on his team.  Emory nominees are placed in the "college division" category, which is composed of all NCAA Division II and III schools, along with NAIA programs.