Harris Named to Capital One Academic All-America Team
Senior swimmer Austin Harris of Keene State College has been named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-America Division III At-Large Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Harris from Essex Junction, Vt., is the second KSC student-athlete to earn national academic All-America honors. Scott Jensen, an Owl cross country and track runner, also earned the recognition as a senior in 2000.
Harris, an architecture major and a freestyle sprinter and relay specialist, got the job done in the classroom and the pool this year.
Boasting an impressive 3.92 cumulative GPA, Harris, who was also named KSC’s scholar athlete of the year, also produced some notable numbers in the pool. A three-time NCAA championship qualifier who earned honorable All-America honors in six relay events the past two years, Harris finally earned his first out-right All-American honor as a member of KSC’s 200 freestyle relay team that finished eighth at this year’s championship meet. A 10-time All-New England relay champion, Harris is also a member of four record-setting relays at Keene State.
“It’s awesome,” said Harris, who was a second-team selection. “I took a lot of hard work and time management. “You have to be dedicated and committed to doing well in the classroom and in the pool.”
“There were some early mornings, but it was worth it,” added the Owls’ three-year captain who has earned District academic honors the past two years. “I enjoyed my four years at Keene State and my accomplishments that came from it.”
“Austin set a high standard for the team, both academically and athletically,” said KSC Coach Jack Fabian. “He never let his work in the classroom take a backseat to his work in the pool and excelled in both areas”
Currently working at a design building firm in Burlington, Vt., Harris is applying to several graduate schools as well as looking into some firms in the Boston area to gain more experience.
