NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Four members of the Norwich University women's swimming & diving team have been named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, recognizing their excellence in both academics and athletics.  Kylie Farris (Leander, Texas), Reilly Laitala (Sterling, Mass.), Maria Piekarczyk (Dudley, Mass.), and Jenna Tschida (Goffstown, N.H.) earned the prestigious honor, as announced by CSC (formerly CoSIDA) on Tuesday afternoon.

Farris, a mechanical engineering major with a 3.59 cumulative GPA, made her mark in backstroke events, taking first place in the 200-yard backstroke at the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships.  Her individual success, combined with her strong performances in relays, added crucial points to Norwich's championship-winning total.

Laitala, a nursing major with a 3.54 cumulative GPA, continued her dominance on the diving board, earning GNAC Women's Diver of the Year plaudits for the second consecutive season.  She swept both the one-meter and three-meter diving events, claiming first in all female diving events to contribute to Norwich's championship performance.  In addition to her conference accolades, Laitala has advanced to the CSC Academic All-America ballot, where she will be considered for national recognition.

Piekarczyk, a health science major with a 3.97 cumulative GPA, delivered a standout performance at the GNAC Championships, earning multiple All-Conference honors in individual and relay events.  Her efforts, which included breaking the school record in the 200-yard medley relay, helped Norwich capture its third consecutive GNAC championship.

Tschida, a neuroscience major with a 3.85 cumulative GPA, was an integral part of Norwich's championship-winning relay teams.  Her consistency in freestyle and medley relay events was key to Norwich's dominant 917-point team victory, as she played a vital role in multiple top-three relay finishes.

To qualify for CSC Academic All-District® honors, student-athletes must be a sophomore or older, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, and compete in at least five competitions or finish top-eight at a conference meet.

The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Women's Swimming & Diving Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the pool and the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately honors student-athletes across NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.