2011-12 SEASON IN REVIEW
With the regular season over, KU shifted its attention to the Big 12 Championships on Feb. 22-25 in Columbia, Mo. During the four day competition, Kansas would amass a total of 423 points, which was good for fourth place. A total of 20 KU swimmers would earn top times in 36 different events, while two Jayhawk divers achieved lifetime best performances on the platform. It was KU’s highest point total at the Big 12’s in four years and capped off the swimming portion of the 2011-12 schedule. The Kansas divers closed out their season with a successful trip to the NCAA Zone ‘D’ Championships (3/9-11) in Iowa City, Iowa. Junior Christy Cash made her second straight appearance in the event and finished 30th (228.50) in the one-meter, 28th (241.15) in three-meter competition and 18th (3/8-10) in the platform. In her first career appearance at Zones, sophomore Alyssa Golden placed 35th (211.65) in the one-meter, 38th (189.15) off of the three-meter boards and 28th (128.75) in the platform. The Jayhawk swimmers and divers earned a number of academic accolades during the month as 13 of them wound up on the Academic All-Big 12 Team following their performances during the fall 2011 semester. Nine student-athletes would find a spot on the first team (3.20-4.00 GPA), while four placed on the conference’s second team (3.00-3.19 GPA).
Alison Lusk placed fifth in the 200 breaststroke at the Big 12 Championship.
As a team, KU earned a spot on the Scholar All-America Team list, which is compiled by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The Jayhawks studied their way to a 3.02 GPA during the fall 2011 semester, which added them to six current or future member schools of the Big 12 Conference on that list. Senior Sarah Hettenbach would garner one of the Big 12’s highest academic honors, as she was one of three Jayhawks named a winner of the Dr. Gerald Lage Award.
Senior Stephanie Payne qua lif ied for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Oma ha , N eb.
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