11 Berkeley Aquatics Swimmers Make USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team

Berkeley Aquatic Club is proud to announce that 11 of its members have made the USA Swimming Scholastic All-America (SAA) team, a recognition that is given in honor of both academic and athletic accomplishments.  

This is an annual distinction awarded to high school student-athletes who maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, while also achieving the required time standard in a single event.  Eligible students must have completed 10th, 11th or 12th grade along with being a USA Swimming member athlete. USA Swimming designated 74 student-athletes from New Jersey for the 2010-2011 season, while a total of 1,759 made the team from across the nation.    

This year’s female recipients include – Gaby Charmont from Mendham who swam in the 5K Race at the Open Water National Meet held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and also sectionals. While training to attend these high-level meets, Gaby was taking the honors courses for the International Baccalaureate offered at her high school.  

Stephanie Koziol from Summit, competed at Speedo Junior Nationals this past August, swimming 200 Backstroke and 400 IM.  Stephanie served as the Junior and Senior Athlete representative for NJ Swimming, and she is currently a freshman at Bucknell.   

Libby Dalziel of Chatham is a recipient of the Rochester Institute of Technology Award for Innovation and Creativity.  She swam at Junior Nationals, participating in the medley relay, while also qualifying at sectionals in the 100 and 200 Backstroke, and 400 IM.  Libby also served as a NJ Senior Athlete Representative for USA Swimming. 

Pingry student Jen Shahar, of Morristown swam at Junior Nationals, participating in the 100 Breast, 4x100 Free Relay and 4x100 Medley Relay. Mary Cullen of Maplewood, a senior at Villa Walsh, achieved qualifying times for sectionals in numerous Freestyle events, including the 200, 500, 1000, and 1650.

Rounding out the female honorees is Rebecca DeLaFuente of Westfield, a three time SAA.  Academically during 2011 she was a National Hispanic Scholar, a Venture Scholar, an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society.  She also trained to compete at USA Swimming Junior Nationals.  Becky was ‘the Fastest Girl in NJ’ during 2010 in the 100, 200 and 400 meter Freestyle.  Currently she is attending Yale. 

Male recipients include Nick Smagula from Randolph.  Nick is the NJ Swimming JR Athlete representative, while academically he is an honors student, and a member of the National Honor Society.  This past summer he swam at the Open Water Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, participating in the 5K, placing 56th in the nation. 

Cameron Rattray of Bridgewater has been named to the SAA team all three years, with a 4.0+ GPA every year.  He was an honors student and a member of the National Society for High School Scholars, while achieving qualifying times for Junior Nationals, participating in the 800 Free, 400 Free and 400 IM.  

Charlie Cole, a resident of Bernardsville, is an honors student and a volunteer for the Special Olympics.  This past year, Charlie swam at Junior Nationals, anchoring the 800 Free Relay.  He also achieved qualifying times for SAA in the 200, 500, 1000, and 1650 Free. 

Kevin Jan of Edison, is a National Commended Scholar and an AP Scholar, and this is the second time he has been named to the SAA Team.  During the 2010 – 2011 swim season, Kevin participated at the Canada Cup and Super Sectionals, swimming the 100 and 200 Butterfly. 

Paul Soley of Lebanon has attended USA Swimming’s National Meet for the last three years.  He was the High Point Award winner for the 2011 NJ Long Course Junior Olympic Championships, and currently he is training to qualify for the Olympic Trials that will take place in June in Omaha, Nebraska. Paul is a Scholastic All-America Team member for the second year.