NEWARK, NJ -- The Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference has announced its All-Academic team for the 2008-2009 season, compiled by Brad Flood, the swimming coach at Bridgeport University.
Five Highlanders made the list -- Pablo Botero, Andrew Helbers, Michael Lawson, James Paccioretti and Karen Cilento.
To secure a place on the All-Academic team, an athlete must finish in the top 16 places in at least one event at the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Championship Meet. They may do this in either an individual event or as part of a relay team. Additionally, they must have either a cumulative GPA or a fall semester term GPA of 3.5 or above.
One of the largest conference championship meets in the country, the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference includes over 20 colleges and universities representing all three NCAA divisions. Every year, Over 500 student athletes make their way to “the METS”, held at the end of February at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
Pablo Botero, a junior from Parsippany, NJ, is a Chemical Engineering major with a 3.414 cumulative GPA (he earned a 3.656 in fall 2008). Botero is a distance freestyler who earned his place on the All-Academic squad with his appearance in the 800 yard freestyle relay.
Andrew Helbers, a freshman from East Stroudsburg, PA, is an Applied Physics major with a 4.000 cumulative GPA. As with Botero, Helbers is also a distance freestyler. He earned his spot on the All-Academic squad with his participation in both the 400 and 800 yard freestyle relays.
Michael Lawson, is a fourth year Architecture major from Lake Hiawatha, NJ with a 3.668 cumulative GPA. Lawson is a breaststroke and individual medley swimmer. He swam the breaststroke legs on the Highlanders 200 and 400 yard medley relays.
James Paccioretti, a senior from Oak Ridge, NJ, is a Chemical Engineering major with a 3.539 cumulative GPA. Paccioretti, a middle distance freestyler, earned his All-Academic honor by representing the Highlanders on four relays – the 200, 400 and 800 yard freestyle relays and the 200 yard medley relay.
Karen Cilento, is a second year Architecture major from Staten Island, NY with a 3.839 cumulative GPA. Cilento, who swims sprint freestyle and breaststroke, also earned her All-Academic spot by competing on four Highlander relays – the 200 and 400 yard medley relays and the 200 and 400 year freestyle relays.
The men's 800 yard freestyle relay – consisting of Paccioretti, Helbers, Botero, along with freshman Richard Montesano – set an NJIT school record at the meet.
Cilento, along with her teammates – junior Teresa Higgins, freshman Rachael Abadie and sophomore Sadie Mele – set NJIT school records on all four of their relays.
