CLARION, Pa. — Clarion University diver Kristin Day (Sr. Reynoldsville/DuBois) and swimmer Emilee Gysegem (Sr. Warren, Oh./Lakeview) were named this week as Capital One First Team Academic All-District 2 selections and will advance to the national ballot to be considered for NCAA Division II Academic All-America on the At-Large team for 2015.
This is the second straight year the duo has advanced to the All-America ballot.
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). The Division II program has eight regional teams.
Day was a first Team Academic All-America choice in 2014 and the All-America of the Year on the at-large team, while Gysegem was a second team Academic A-A.
“Once again this is an outstanding honor for two deserving student-athletes,” said Clarion head swimming coach Mark Vandyke. “They are the epitome of the term student-athletes and we are proud to have them in blue and gold.”
Day, a Chemistry major with a concentration in Biochemistry, had 138 credits earned at Clarion University with a perfect 4.0 gpa entering the spring semester and was honored on March 10 at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving National Championships with the prestigious “Elite 89” award, which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s championships.
Day, a three-time NCAA Division II National Champion and 8-time career All-American, won the NCAA D-II one meter national title this year (2015) with 506.85 points, while finishing 4th on 3 meter 512.20 points. In 2014 she won both NCAA championships in dominating fashion. She won the 3 meter springboard title setting a new NCAA record with 539.35 points, winning the event by 52.9 points. She followed that with a 1 meter national title scoring 497.05 points, winning by 30.2 points. For her efforts she was named the CSCAA NCAA D-II Female “Diver of the Year”.
Kristin finished third on the three meter board with 491.70 points and 5th on 1 meter with 449.90 points in 2013. In 2012 she was second on three meter scoring 484.75 points and fourth on one meter scoring 495.70 points.
The daughter of Dennis and Susan Day of Reynoldsville, Pa., she was honored by Capital One and CoSIDA in June of 2014 as a First Team Academic All-American on the At-Large Team, and then was recognized at the same time as the Academic All-America of the Year for the At-Large program. She is a 4-time Clarion and three-time PSAC Scholar Athlete, and now twice a Spring Top 10 PSAC award winner.
Gysegem, a senior, has compiled a perfect 4.0 grade point average entering her final semester completing 125 credits and is majoring in Business Management with a minor in Sports Management. A two-time PSAC “Champion Scholar”, four-time Clarion and three-time PSAC Scholar Athlete, she is the current Vice-President of SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee), and the daughter of Lisa and Toby Gysegem.
In the pool at the 2015 PSAC’s Gysegem won the 400 IM with a time of 4:27.09, was third in the 200 IM (2:06.17 – 2:05.75 prelims), 6th in the 200 backstroke (2:05.84) 7th in the 200 butterfly (2:07.77) and on the 4th place 200 and 400 medley relays and the 7th place 800 free relay. Clarion finished the PSAC’s in 5th place as a team. Gysegem owns the Clarion record in the 400 IM at 4:26.35.
At the 2014 PSAC’s Gysegem placed 2nd in the 400 IM (4:27.69), 4th in the 200 IM (2:05.73), 10th in the 100 breaststroke and 9th in the 200 breaststroke, while helping three relays including the 3rd place 200 medley relay, 4th place 400 medley relay and the 8th place 400 free relay. Clarion finished 8th as a team at the 2013 PSAC’s.
In 2013 Gysegem set the school record in the 400 IM for the first time while earning A-A status with a 10th place finish at nationals. Her record time was 4:26.69. Clarion’s women were 17th at D-II Nationals. At the PSAC’s in 2013 Gysegem won the 200 and 400 IM races and was 6th in the 100 back helping Clarion to a 2nd place finish at PSAC’s.
In 2012 Emilee earned third place finishes in the 200 and 400 IM and was 6th in the 200 backstroke at PSAC’s with Clarion finishing second as a team.
Kristin Day
Emilee Gysegem
