The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Kelly, Yarrison named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team
06.12.2008 | Women's Swimming and Diving
AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas junior diver Kathryn Kelly and senior diver Mary Yarrison have been selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team in a vote conducted by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Kelly (Longwood, Fla./Lake Brantley HS) was voted to the 15-member second team in the university at-large division, while Yarrison (Springfield, Va./Robert E. Lee HS) was selected to the 15-member third team. The university at-large division includes NCAA Division I programs in the sports of swimming and diving, bowling, rowing, fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, tennis and water polo.
Kelly placed third in the three-meter diving event and fourth in the one-meter diving event at the 2008 NCAA Championship and was selected as the Big 12 Women's Diver of the Year. Kelly is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 first-team selection and a member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Kelly, who shared team Academic MVP honors with Yarrison, holds a 3.84 GPA in public relations. She becomes the 15th UT women's swimmer or diver to earn Academic All-America honors.
Yarrison ended her UT career as a two-time All-American and two-time honorable mention All-American. Yarrison placed second in the one-meter event and ninth in the three-meter event at the 2008 NCAA Championship. Notably, Yarrison's consolation-round score in the three-meter event topped the score that took top honors in the championship final. She also swept the one- and three-meter events at the Big 12 Championship.
A 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second-team member, Yarrison joins Texas Exes Kelly Jenkins and Alisa Schuknecht (swimming and diving), Nikki Cockrell (softball) and Jamie Carey (basketball) as the only women in the history of UT athletics to earn two selections to the Academic All-America Team.
Yarrison is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 first-team selection and a member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. She holds a 3.82 cumulative GPA with a dual major in English and government.
With the selections of Kelly and Yarrison as Academic All-Americans, Texas is tied for first nationally, with Notre Dame, with eight men's and women's Academic All-Americans honored thus far during the 2007-08 season. UT is tied for first nationally, alongside Arkansas, Nebraska and Penn State, with four women's Academic All-Americans selected this season. Kelly and Yarrison join soccer's Kelsey Carpenter (third team) and volleyball's Michelle Moriarty (third team) as the Longhorns' women's Academic All-Americans selected in 2007-08.
Kelly and Yarrison became eligible for selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team after receiving first-team Academic All-District honors on May 27. To be nominated for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average. Student-athletes must reach sophomore athletic and academic standings at their current institution to be eligible.