ATLANTA – Gardner-Webb senior Nathan Lile was honored with the NCAA Elite 90 Award Thursday afternoon at the NCAA Division I Men's Swimming & Diving Championships following the first day of competition.
The Elite 90 Award is presented annually to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average competing at the finals' site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
Lile (Waynesville, N.C. / Homeschool) carries a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA while pursuing a difficult double major in Computer Science and Philosophy. He is the first men's swimmer in Gardner-Webb history to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships, which is being held this week at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center.
Lile finished 34th in the 50 free prelims with a time of 19.78 seconds Thursday morning. He will swim again Friday morning in the 100 fly prelims, the second of three events he will participate in this week. Lile will also swim in the 100 free.
Lile entered this week's championship action as the most decorated male swimmer in Gardner-Webb history, with the first men's team taking the pool for the 2007-2008 season.
The standout earned All-CCSA honors 21 times over his four seasons at the conference meet and won six individual CCSA titles during that time – including three this season. . He was named Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) Most Outstanding Male Swimmer two seasons in a row and holds numerous school and conference records.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship.
All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.
