NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For the second straight season, Vanderbilt swimming has been named a Scholar All-America Team by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) after each semester of the academic year. In addition, the organization announced Wednesday that the trio of Kailia Utley, Faith Knelson and Mercedes Traba were selected to its Scholar All-American Team.
In order to qualify for team recognition, programs must earn a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 for the semester. Individuals must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or better and participated in their national championship to qualify for first-team honors, while second-team honorees require a 3.5 or higher GPA and have met the NCAA B Standard in at least one event.
The Commodores set a program record with a 3.61 GPA in the fall, and followed that up by posting a mark of 3.75 last semester.
The performance caps a season that saw the Dores break all five relay records on seven occasions during the 2023-24 campaign in addition to having 10 individuals set new program marks 14 times. A total of 16 swimmers—more than half the team’s roster—recorded times that met NCAA and CSCAA National Invitational Championship standards, while 18 members of the program combined to post 41 marks that rank among the top 10 on the school’s all-time performer list.
Utley became the first Commodore to compete at the NCAA Championships in 30 years in March, and in doing so became the first first-team CSCAA Scholar All-American in the program’s record books. It’s the third straight season the rising senior from Huntington Beach, California, has been recognized by the organization, and she is also a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection. She swam both the 100 and 200 butterfly at the national championships after qualifying for the Consolation Final in each event at the SEC Championships, ending the year with five victories in the two disciplines.
It’s the second consecutive season that Knelson was named second-team Scholar All-American after she met the NCAA B Standard in the 100 breaststroke in 2023-24. The senior won the C Final in the event at the SEC Championships in February, setting a school record in the process, one of four times she was victorious in the race on the season. Originally from Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada, Knelson also had Vandy’s top time in the 200 breaststroke, and she ranked second on the team in the 200 individual medley as well.
Traba was honored after advancing to the C Final in the 400 individual medley at the SEC Championships, where she recorded a mark that met the NCAA B Standard. In addition to posting the Dores’ best time in that event, the native of Sarasota, Florida, also paced Vanderbilt in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle during the season. A rising senior, Traba set school records in the 1,000 free and 400 IM in 2023-24 while also ranking third on the squad in the 200 free.
Megan Ciezczak, Abby Francis, Ellie Taliaferro and Utley were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team following the conclusion of the season, with 20 individuals making the Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll as well.
