2/28/2023 1:29:31 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Liberty senior Eva Suggs, juniors Abbie Shaw and Meagan Tuohy and sophomore Sydney Stricklin have all been named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Swimming & Diving Team®, as announced today by the College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA).
To earn inclusion on the team, a student-athlete must be a key contributor and have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average. In addition, a student-athlete must have completed one full calendar year at their current institution.
As a result of their inclusion on the academic all-district team, they will now appear on the ballot for the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Swimming & Diving Team®. The first-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced on March 20. This is the first year that the CSC has sponsored a separate swimming & diving Academic All-American team. Previously, swimming & diving athletes were included in the at-large program.
Tuohy (biomedical sciences major) holds a 4.0 GPA, while Stricklin (interdisciplinary studies) has a 3.96 GPA. Suggs has earned a 3.93 GPA so far while pursuing a Master’s degree in nutrition. Shaw carries a 3.65 GPA as a sports communications and public relations major.
Shaw, Stricklin and Suggs have previously been named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans earlier in their respective careers.
Shaw, a native of Niwot, Colo., is a four-time CCSA individual event champion, winning both the 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke both last year and this year. She also added a third-place finish in the 100 butterfly this season, giving her five career conference podium finishes. The junior broke the program record for 50 backstroke at the 2023 CCSA Championships, leading off the 200 medley relay in 24.34 seconds. Shaw ranks second in program history in the 200 backstroke (1:55.13), third in the 100 backstroke (52.92) and fourth in 100 fly (53.80).
Hailing from Clarkston, Mich., Stricklin has had a standout first two years spearheading Liberty’s sprint group. She was named the Most Outstanding Female Newcomer at the 2022 CCSA Championship Meet, winning the 100 freestyle as a freshman. Stricklin added her third career CCSA podium finish this season, swimming 54.30 for third place. The sophomore ranks third in program history in the 100 free (49.48), fifth in 200 free (1:47.66) and sixth in 100 backstroke (54.30).
A native of Boise, Idaho, Suggs is one of Liberty’s most decorated swimmers. With nine career CCSA podium finishes, she is tied for second in program history in top-three placings at the conference level. She finished as CCSA runner-up in both the 200 free and 100 back this season, after winning the last three conference 200 free titles in a row. Suggs was named the Most Outstanding Female Newcomer of the 2020 CCSA Championship Meet. For her career, she rnaks third all-time at Liberty in 200 freestyle (1:47.56) and 200 backstroke (1:56.40) and fifth in 100 backstroke (54.24).
Tuohy, a native of Dover, Pa., has had a breakthrough junior campaign for the Lady Flames on the diving boards. She has earned her first career appearance at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, where she will compete on the one-meter springboard next week. Tuohy also qualified for a CCSA Final for the first time, finishing fourth in the conference one-meter diving competition this season. She ranks fifth in program history in one-meter diving (268.20) and sixth in three-meter (260.10).
The Lady Flames claimed their fifth straight CCSA title and sixth overall two weeks ago in Knoxville. Tuohy, Grace Gooding, Mary Herndon and Maddie Freece will all compete in the 2023 NCAA Zone A Diving Championships, March 6-8 in Morgantown, W.Va.
Featured in photo: Eva Suggs
