East Stroudsburg, Pa. - East Stroudsburg University swimmer Erin Kowalik has been named to the Verizon Academic All-America College Division second team for fall and winter women's at-large sports. The team was chosen by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

A total of 45 athletes were honored, 15 on each of three teams, from Division II-III and NAIA schools. The fall and winter at-large women's sports are cross country, fencing, field hockey, gymnastics, rifle, skiing, soccer, and swimming.

Kowalik has compiled a perfect 4.00 grade point average with a major in Recreation. She has attended ESU for almost two years after transferring from Ithaca College.

The senior from Red Lion was a top freestyle sprinter as the 2000-2001 ESU swimming team finished with a 9-2 record, tying the school mark for the most victories in a season.

She posted NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 50-yard freestyle of 24.55 and in the 100-yard freestyle at 54.41, but did not make the field for the national meet.

In the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships, she placed tenth in both the 50 and 100 free. She also was a member of the Warriors' 200-yard freestyle relay team which placed fourth in the conference and the 400-yard medley relay team which was sixth.

She previously had been selected on the Verizon Academic All-District first team. She will graduate in May and plans to accept an internship in marketing and hospitality at a hotel or resort in Europe.

Kowalik became the first ESU swimmer ever to gain Academic All-America honors. The school's last Academic All-Americas were field hockey goalie Katie Horst, who made the first team in both 1997 and 1998 and the third team in 1996, and track and field jumper Rob Stone, a second team selection in both 1996 and 1998..

She represents the school's 11th Academic All-America. Other previous selections have been football players Warren Brown, second team, 1979; Ernie Siegrist, first team, 1984, and Ed Detwiler, second team, 1992; field hockey player Shelly Knapik, first team, 1986; lacrosse player Tiffany Bair, third team, 1996; track and field runner Laura Mason, second team in 1993 and 1995 and third team in 1994; softball player Denise McKeown, third team, 1991, and baseball player Mike Balent, second team, 1985.

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