Pair of Purple Raiders earn academic honors

Mount Union's women's swim team held a 3.24 grade point average.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ALLIANCE -- Alicia Bluhm and Anne Marie LaScola, graduates of West Branch and Wellsville, respectively, helped the Mount Union College women's swimming team to more academic honors.
The Purple Raiders, coached by Kathie Lavery, were accorded College Swim Coaches Association of America Academic All-American Team status for the spring 2006 semester with a 3.24 grade-point average.
It marked the 23rd time that the team was selected for the All-American semester academic recognition.
"Our student athletes have worked very hard to maintain a high GPA while doing all of the work required of them in the pool," said Lavery, who completed her 14th year as coach. "That's not an easy task -- maintaining academic excellence while also participating in intercollegiate athletics. Hopefully we can make it 24 semesters next fall."
Strong swimmers
Bluhm, completing her freshman year, and LaScola, who graduated this spring, earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors as members of the 200 freestyle relay team at the league meet. They teamed with Lindsay Baker and Erin Schwing to place third in 1 minute, 43.93 seconds.
LaScola also edged out Bluhm for fourth place in the 100 butterfly at the OAC meet by just .03 with 1:03.71 to Bluhm's 1:03.74.
LaScola also placed sixth in the 200 butterfly (2:32.36).
The Purple Raiders wound up fifth in the OAC meet.
Bluhm also competed in the 100 freestyle during the season with a personal-best time of 58.88.
LaScola also earned All-OAC in 2003 by placing second in the 50 freestyle (25.97).
Then she repeated the honor in 2004 by placing third in the 50 freestyle (25.77).
LaScola's personal-best times at MUC were 25.6 in the 50 freestyle, 56.7 in the 100 freestyle and 1:04.7 in the 100 butterfly.
kovach@vindy.com