Northwood's Hunter Hitchens (far left) and Gabe Munoz (left middle) have been named to the USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Team for 2015-2016. Irvine Novaquatics Head Coach Ken LaMont (right middle) and NHS Head Coach Alex Nieto (far right) presented their award certificates. Photos courtesy of CoolPoolPix.
Northwood High School's Hunter Hitchens and Gabe Munoz were recognized by USA Swimming as Scholastic All-Americans for the 2015-2016 swim season, and past academic year.
See the full 2015-2016 Boys Scholastic All-American list here
See the full 2015-2016 Girls Scholastic All-American list here
Each year, USA Swimming recognizes its members who excel both in the classroom and in the pool. The Scholastic All-American Team is made up of high school student-athletes who have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, and who have achieved the 2016 Junior National Standard in a single event. To be eligible for this recognition, swimmers must have completed 10th, 11th or 12th grade and must be a USA Swimming member athlete. This year, 1172 student-athletes qualified for Scholastic All-American status - 582 girls, and 590 boys from across the United States for the 2015-2016 school year.
Hunter Hitchens, a Junior National freestyler/butterflyer, and Gabe Munoz, a Junior National IM/butterflyer are part of the class of 2018 at Northwood High School. This is their first time being named to the Scholastic All-American Team as sophomores.
This past spring, Hitchens and Munoz helped lead the Northwood Timberwolves boys team to their 4th - highest finish in Division I program history. At the Division I CIF Finals in Riverside, CA. Hitchens earned 5th overall in the 200 yard freestyle (1:39.69), and 8th in the 100 yard freestyle (45.83) events. While Munoz earned 4th overall in the 100 yard IM (1:51.11), and 8th overall in the 100 yard butterfly (50.45). This past summer both boys competed in multiple events and relays at the United States Speedo Junior National Championships held in Minneapolis, MN.
Both Hunter and Gabe have been privileged to receive their coaching from Irvine Novaquatics Head Coach Ken LaMont, and Northwood High School Head Coach Alex Nieto who presented their award certificates.
Their academic excellence in AP & Honors classes in math and sciences has led both boys towards pursuing an engineering major in college.
“At Northwood High School, our expectations are high for our swimmers to perform in the classroom academically as well as in the swimming pool, while developing great character and leadership skills," NHS Head Coach Alex Nieto.
“Looking at it from a club or college coaching standpoint, someone who can be as successful as they have been in the pool, and be on top of academics is a sign of being on top of their lives," Irvine Novaquatics Head Coach Ken LaMont.
Congratulations to Hunter Hitchens and Gabe Munoz on this great achievement!