TOWSON, Md. - Towson University junior swimmer Melanie Rowland was named as a first team women's at large selection to the Capital One Academic All-District II team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Rowland was one of 15 student-athletes selected to the District II team, which consists of athletes from Washington, D.C., Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. To be eligible for the district team, student-athletes must have at least a 3.30 GPA and be a starter or an important reserve.
She will now go on the Capital One Academic All-America® ballot with the other first team selections from the eight districts. The Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America® teams will be announced on June 6.
"This is another great accomplishment for Melanie and our program," Towson head coach Pat Mead said. "We emphasize excellence in the classroom, pool and the community and Melanie has been our leader in all three areas. With another year ahead, I am confident she will continue this level of excellence and graduate next year as one of our most accomplished student-athletes."
Rowland, a double-major in family science and psychology who holds a 3.89 grade point average, was also named the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Swimming Scholar Athlete of the Year for her academic endeavors last month.
A vital part of the Tigers' fifth CAA women's swimming championship team in the last six seasons, Rowland scored 49 points at the championship meet, the sixth-most among all women. She had three top-three finishes in the meet, including a second-place performance in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:59.06. She also placed third in the 100-yard butterfly and third in the 500-yard freestyle.
Earlier this year, Rowland also became the first woman in school history to qualify for the United States Olympic Swimming Trials. She finished finished 65th in the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:16.62.
