Clarion junior diver Kristin Day (Reynoldsville/Dubois) was named today as the Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-America of the Year in the At-Large Division as well as a first team Academic All-American, while junior swimmer Emilee Gysegem (Warren, Oh./Lakeview) was named a Capital One Second Team Academic All-American in the At-Large category as well.  
 
                The women's at-large program for Academic All-America includes the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, golf, gymnastics, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, tennis, and water polo.
 
                The Academic All-America program is run and voted on by members of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).
 
                "What an outstanding honor for Kristin and Emilee," said 14^th year Clarion head swimming coach Mark VanDyke. "They represent the true concept of the term student-athlete and we are proud to have them here at Clarion University."
 
Kristin Day" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=27&image_path=/images/2014/3/14/day_1_meter_ics.jpg" />                Kristin Day, a junior, diver, has a 4.0 gpa and is a Chemistry major with a concentration in Biochemistry. She is the daughter of Dennis and Susan Day of Reynoldsville, Pa. and is a three-time Clarion and PSAC Scholar Athlete. She was already selected this year to the Spring PSAC Academic Top 10.
 
                Day was named by the CSCAA as the NCAA Division II "Female Diver of the Year" immediately following the conclusion of the 2014 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving championships in March after winning both 1 and 3 meter diving competitions in dominating fashion.
 
                Day opened the NCAA's on Wednesday, March 12, with an NCAA D-II record setting performance in scoring 539.35 points on the 3 meter springboard winning the event by 52.9 points.  She smashed the former NCAA D-II record of 519 points set in 2013 by Kali Lentz of Incarnate Word. She came back on Friday night, March 14, and won the 1 meter event scoring 497.05 points and winning her second NCAA title by 30.2 points. She helped lead Clarion to a 17^th place finish at the nationals.
 
                Day is now a 6-time NCAA D-II All-American, having placed third on 3 meter and 5^th on 1 meter in 2013 and 2^nd on 3 meter and 4th on 1 meter in 2012. Clarion finished 17^th at the D-II Nationals in 2013 and 22^nd at nationals in 2012.
 
                Emilee Gysegem, a junior, has also compiled a perfect 4.0 grade point average and is majoring in Business Management at Clarion with a minor in Sports Management. She was honored with the PSAC Champion Scholar Award at the 2014 PSAC championships. A three-time Clarion and PSAC Scholar Athlete and the current President of SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee), she is the daughter of Lisa and Toby Gysegem.
 
                In the pool at the 2014 PSAC's Gysegem placed 2^nd in the 400 IM (4:27.69), 4^th in the 200 IM (2:05.73), 10^th in the 100 breaststroke and 9^th in the 200 breaststroke, while helping three relays including the 3^rd place 200 medley relay, 4^th place 400 medley relay and the 8^th place 400 free relay. Clarion finished 8^th as a team at the 2014 PSAC's.
 
                In 2013 Gysegem set the school record in the 400 IM while earning A-A status with a 10^th place finish at nationals. Her record time was 4:26.69. Clarion's women were 17^th at D-II Nationals. At the PSAC's in 2013 Gysegem won the 200 and 400 IM races and was 6^th in the 100 back helping Clarion to a 2^nd place finish.
 
                In 2012 Emilee earned third place finishes in the 200 and 400 IM and was 6^th in the 200 backstroke at PSAC's with Clarion finishing second as a team.
 
 
                CLARION NOTES: Clarion once again has had a banner year when it comes to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All America and Academic All District programs …. Earning First Team Academic All-America Honors this year are Kristin Day, Hannah Heeter in both women's volleyball and women's basketball, as well as Mike Felker (football)… With Gysegem earning Second Team Academic All-America honors the golden Eagles have had four athletes earn five Academic All-America awards… Also earning first team All-district honors already this year are Mike Felker – football, Hannah Heeter and Laura Subject – women's volleyball, Hannah Heeter women's basketball, Mike Kromka men's basketball, and Kristin Day and Emilee Gysegem…