Beckwith wins NCAA Elite 88 award for second consecutive year

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- For the second consecutive year, Olivet College senior Kellen Beckwith (Farmington Hills/North Farmington) has received the prestigious Elite 88 award for men's swimming and diving from the NCAA. He was presented with the award tonight at the championships banquet.

In its second year of existence, the Elite 88 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. The Elite 88 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 88 championships.

Beckwith, who carries a perfect 4.0 GPA in mathematics, will begin competition tomorrow at the NCAA National Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Tennessee. He will swim in the 200 individual medley tomorrow, 100 backstroke Friday and 200 backstroke Saturday. A four-time All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association selection, Beckwith is a two-time NCAA All-American in the 100 backstroke, finishing as high as seventh at the 2010 national championships. He holds the school record in all three events -- :50.16 in the 100 backstroke, 1:51.20 in the 200 backstroke and 1:56.68 in the 200 IM.

Tessa Dover from Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) College is the recipient of the Elite 88 award for women's swimming and diving. To date, Beckwith and Dover are the only two-time recipients of this award.

"I am extremely proud of Kellen," said Olivet Head Coach Jake Taber. "He has been an outstanding student-athlete, especially this semester. Kellen has not only put in many hours of practice to get better in the pool, but he has equally shown a strong dedication to his student-teaching assignment in the Olivet Community Schools."