Four Named to Philadelphia Inquirer Winter Academic All-Area Teams

PHILADELPHIA - Four Swarthmore College student-athletes - Kathryn Stockbower '11 of the women's basketball team, Travis Pollen '12 and Daniel Duncan '13 of the men's swimming team and Sarah Bedolfe '11 of the women's swimming team - have been selected to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area teams for their respective winter sports, the paper announced on Tuesday.

Additionally, Stockbower has been honored as the women's basketball Academic All-Area Co-Player of the Year along with University of the Sciences' Melissa Rotz, marking the second-consecutive year that she has received the honor. She is the second Swarthmore student-athlete to be named Academic All-Area Player of the Year during the 2010-11 season, following David D'Annunzio '12 (men's soccer).

Bedolfe, Duncan and Pollen are all first-time selections, while Stockbower makes the team for the third time in her career.

In order to be eligible for the All-Area team, an athlete must be of sophomore athletic standing, have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better, and be a starter or key reserve. The team is voted on by the sports information directors of the 28 schools from the Philadelphia area.

Bedolfe (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) developed into the one of the Garnet's top distance swimmers during her senior season. At the 2011 Centennial Conference Championships, she helped the team finish in third place by reaching the finals in both the  500 freestyle (5:21.01) and 1650 freestyle (18:30.16).  At Swarthmore's 2011 Athletics Department Awards Banquet, Bedolfe was presented with the May E. Parry Award, which is given to the senior woman who, by her loyalty, sportsmanship, and versatility in athletics, has made a valuable contribution to Swarthmore College.

Duncan (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles West) was consistently the Garnet's top swimmer during the 2010-11 season, earning a team-high four medals at the Centennial Conference Championships and leading the team to a third place finish. Duncan earned silver in the 200 IM (1:57.91) and 400 IM (4:12.33), while taking bronze in both the 200 butterfly (1:56.95) and 400 medley relay.
During the 2010-11 season, Duncan recorded Swarthmore's top time in 200 free (1:45.46), 200 IM (1:57.91) and 400 IM (4:12.33) as well as top five Centennial Conference times in 200 fly, 200 IM, and 400 IM.

Pollen (Elkins Park, Pa./Abington), a two-time Capital One Academic All-District Men's At-Large Second Team selection, is the American record holder in the 50-yard (54.80) and 100-yard (54.73) freestyle for his paralympic class (S9). During the 2010-11 season, Pollen broke his own record in the 100-yard freestyle and finished in third place in both the 50 and 100 meter freestyles for his paralympic class at the 2011 US Paralympic Spring National Championships.

Stockbower (Fort Washington, Pa./Upper Dublin) wrapped up her Garnet career as one of the most decorated players in program history, breaking numerous Swarthmore program records and reaching several national and conference milestones. During the 2011 season, Stockbower became the all-time NCAA Division III leader for career double-doubles (83), Swarthmore's all-time leading rebounder (1,335) and third all-time leading scorer (1,677) and was named WBCA Honorable Mention All-America. A double major in biology and German studies, Stockbower was also honored for her excellence in the classroom by earning a place on the 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-America First Team. A recent recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, Stockbower will be teaching in Germany during the 2011-2012 school year.