Congratulations to the following Northwood High School Swimmers on achieving USA Swimming Scholastic All-American (SAA) status in 2017. (Far Left - Right) Shawn Lou, Henry Wu, Amanda Hsieh and Hunter Hitchens. (Hwa Min Sim, Gabriel Munoz - n/a) Photos via NHS Swim Staff.
Northwood High School is proud to announce that six of its student-athletes have made the USA Swimming Scholastic All-Amercia (SAA) team, a recognition that is given in honor of both academic and athletic accomplishments.
See the full 2016-2017 Boys Scholastic All-American list here
See the full 2016-2017 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 2016-2017 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, 1158 student-athletes qualified for Scholastic All-American status - 555 girls, and 603 boys from across the United States for the 2016-2017 school year.
This year's Northwood student female recipient includes Amanda Hsieh who had swim qualifications at the 2017 CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championships held in Riverside, CA., and the 2016 Speedo Winter Junior Nationals (College Station, TX) in the 200 fly, and 400 IM. Hsieh has established herself as a three-time varsity member of Northwood's swim team, and instrumental swimmer with Irvine Novaquatics. She holds individual and relay records at Northwood High School, Irvine Novaquatics, Southern California Swimming LSC, and National Age Group. She's in her junior year at Northwood High School taking AP & Honors courses, and plans to major in Biological Sciences in college.
Male recipients include senior Hunter Hitchens, a NHS swim team captain, who has been named to the Scholastic All-American team for the last two qualifying years. Hitchens is an AP & Honors student who recently was recognized as an NHRP scholar by the College Board. He achieved qualifying times with US Open and Winter/Junior National cuts in 6 different events with his club team Irvine Novaquatics. Hitchens holds several individual and relay records at Northwood High School, Irvine Novaquatics, Southern California Swimming LSC, and National Age Group. He recently announced his verbal commitment to swim in the Ivy League for Cornell University. Hitchens will be enrolled as a premed student with the College of Human Ecology majoring in Human Biology, Health and Society. Looking to study medicine, Hitchens plans to attend medical school after completing his undergraduate.
Senior Henry Wu, was rewarded for his consistent swimming through the high school season, and stellar postseason performances at the Winter/Summer Speedo Junior Nationals with his first USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honor. Wu earned the SAA status after finishing the 2017 season with the Northwood swim team, and assisted in leading the Timberwolves to their third place 2017 CIF Southern Section Division 1 championships podium finish. He shares the 100 breast individual Northwood High School record set this 2017 season, and participated in the 200 Medley relay record. Wu swims year-round with Irvine Novaquatics during the club season, and holds Nova's 15-16 Boys 200 breast LC record set earlier this year. He recently announced his verbal commitment to swim in the ACC for Duke University. He will be enrolled as an engineering student majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
Senior Shawn Lou concluded his 2017 swim season achieving USA Swimming Scholastic All-American qualifications in the freestyle events, and was a contributing factor to Northwood's third place team finish at the 2017 CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championships. In addition, Lou set the school record in the 200 free during the 2017 high school season swimming a lifetime best of 1:39.21. Lou does his club swimming with Irvine Novaquatics. At the Summer Junior Nationals last August in East Meadows, New York, he competed in the 50/100/200 freestyles marking those SAA qualifications. Lou recently announced his verbal commitment to swim in the Ivy League for Columbia University. He will be majoring in Computer Science.
Another NHS swim team captain was named in senior Hwa Min Sim qualifying for the first time as a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. Sim also contributed to the Timberwolves boys team in their 3rd - highest finish in CIF Division 1 program history. Sim earned his SAA qualification at the 45th Annual Foothill Swim Games in Foothill, Ca. during the high school season in the 100 fly with a time of 50.00. He recently announced his verbal commitment to swim for Emory University, and enroll as a double major in Biology and Nutrition Sciences.
Senior Gabriel Munoz earned his second recognition as a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. Including short and long course swims, Munoz qualified in with multiple events at the 2016 Winter Speedo Junior Nationals (College Station, TX), and during the 2017 CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championships (Riverside, CA.). Munoz's mprovements over his high school career have been record breaking as he etched his name in Northwood's record books for the 200 IM (1:49.63), and 100 back (50.17). Munoz will be enrolled at Georgia Institute of Technology as an engineering student pursuing a major in either Mechanical, Aerospace or Industrial Engineering.
The Scholastic All-American accolades that Northwood's swim team received this season are just another testament of its strength and talent as a program. These scholar-athletes epitomize the ideal work ethic of a student-athlete.
“At Northwood High School, having an athlete that excels not only in the pool, but more importantly in the classroom as well, accomplishes a huge goal that we set out for our student-athletes," NHS Head Coach Alex Nieto. "It's a great part of our culture at Northwood, and our goal is to continue it for many more years."
USA Swimming Official Time Standards to qualify for the Scholastic All-America (SAA) team in 2016-2017.
Congratulations to this year's USA Swimming Scholastic All-Americans on your great accomplishment! NHS Swimming is very proud of you! Congratulations as well to the NHS teachers, coaches, and families. Great job!