Two Ashland University swimmers, juniors Julie Widmann (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) and Tyler Remmel (Hubertus, Wis./Hertford Union), have been named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America NCAA Division II At Large Team.
Widmann is a first team selection on the women's team. Remmel is a second team selection on the men's team. The teams are selected by sports information directors from around the country. This is the first time on the national team for both student-athletes.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher on a scale of 4.00 and have reached sophomore athletic and academic status at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
In 2011-12, Widmann led the AU women to a seventh place finish at nationals. This is the third consecutive year the AU women have finished in the nation's top seven and Widmann has competed at nationals every year. As a freshman and sophomore she was on the 200 free relay that won national championships. At the 2012 NCAA Championships Widmann won a national championship in the 100 backstroke.
Widmann has won 20 All-America citations in her career and she is a 16-time All-GLIAC selection. She has been named the most valuable swimmer for the AU women's swimming team for three years. She is the GLIAC record holder in the 200 free relay and the 50 freestyle.
The junior is a marketing major with a 3.89 grade point average. She has served as an instructor at Ashland University's swim school and she has led a weekly Bible study as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle Leader. Widmann is a member of the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team.
Remmel has earned 10 All-America awards in his career. He has qualified for the 2012 United States Olympic Trials in the 100 breaststroke. At the 2012 NCAA Championships Remmel was 11th in the 200 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke and 400 medley relay. He was on the 200 free relay that was 15th and the 200 medley relay that was 15th. Remmel and the Eagles were 16th at nationals.
Remmel is a member of the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team. He is the design editor of AU's campus newspaper, The Collegian. Remmel is a journalism major with a 3.85 grade point average. He is part of AU's Honors Program in the College of Arts and Sciences.
"I think this really shows the process they both use and the way they approach their lives," said AU head men's and women's swimming coach Paul Graham. "It's not a surprise when you look at their grade point averages and how successful they've been in the pool, in the classroom and really in everything they do."
AU has had three Capital One Academic All-Americans this year. Softball pitcher Emlyn Knerem (Brunswick, Ohio) is a third team Academic All-America.
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