COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Junior Kosta Mitrovic and sophomore Matthew Daniel of the Saint Leo men's swimming team appeared on the All-America teams released by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) becoming the 20^th and 21^st All-Americans in program history. Mitrovic was named First Team in the 200 breaststroke while Daniel earned Honorable Mention honors for his performance in the 1,000 freestyle.
 
Due to the cancellation of the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, the CSCAA Board adjusted the selection criteria for each Division. The result was an unprecedented number of selections in what is largely acknowledged as unprecedented circumstances.  Greg Earhart, Executive Director of the CSCAA explained that the Board of Directors sought to not penalize any student-athlete who had not had the opportunity to compete for a spot on the All-American team. "Our sport is replete with previously-unheralded swimmers and divers who have gone on not just to All-America honors, but also to national championships and Olympic Team spots."
 
This isn't the first time the association adjusted All-America criteria. The first CSCAA All-America team was published in 1924, thirteen years before the first men's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship. The first women's All-America team was published in 1975, seven years prior to the first NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship. During much of that time, the team was selected by a panel of coaches. In 1985 the honor was standardized around the NCAA Championships with the top eight finalists receiving first-team recognition and consolation finalists being named Honorable Mention.
 
For NCAA Division II the selection criteria for 2019-20 was as follows. In contested events, the top eight finalists were named to the first team while the consolation finalists were named Honorable Mention. In events that were not contested, individual and relay qualifiers selected for the championship were named All-American.
 
Daniel was the lone Saint Leo men's swimmer who was able to compete at the 2020 NCAA Championships prior to the cancellation of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He competed in the morning session of the opening day and took 16^th in the 1,000 freestyle earning a point towards the team total and earning Honorable Mention All-America honors in the process.
 
Mitrovic was scheduled to take to the water in the 200 breaststroke on day four of the Championships but was never able to compete following the cancellation. He earns his first career First Team All-America honors after earning Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2018 while finishing 14^th in the 200 breast.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on Saint Leo men's swimming, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com.  Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
 
SAINT LEO MEN'S SWIMMING ALL-TIME ALL-AMERICANS (21)
Tim Olson – 2011-12 (CSCAA Honorable Mention)
Michael Cozzi – 2012-13 (CSCAA Honorable Mention)
Pawel Trenda – 2012-13 (CSCAA First Team), 2014-15 (CSCAA First Team), 2015-16 (CSCAA First Team)
Milton Requejo – 2012-13 (CSCAA First Team), 2013-14 (CSCAA First Team)
Gabriel Keown – 2012-13 (CSCAA First Team), 2013-14 (CSCAA First Team)
Matheus Assis – 2012-13 (CSCAA First Team), 2013-14 (CSCAA First Team), 2014-15 (CSCAA First Team), 2015-16 (CSCAA First Team)
Patrick Ceddia – 2013-14 (CSCAA First Team)
Rhet Rheinlander – 2014-15 (CSCAA Honorable Mention)
Evan Jacob – 2014-15 (CSCAA Honorable Mention), 2015-16 (CSCAA First Team)
Hunter Bains – 2014-15 (CSCAA Honorable Mention), 2015-16 (CSCAA First Team), 2016-17 (CSCAA Honorable Mention), 2017-18 (CSCAA First Team and Honorable Mention)
Daniel Bis – 2014-15 (CSCAA First Team), 2015-16 (CSCAA First Team)
Milosz Mikicin – 2016-17 (CSCAA Honorable Mention)
Clayton Howerton – 2017-18 (CSCAA First Team & Honorable Mention)
Henrik Dahrendorff - 2017-18 (CSCAA First Team & Honorable Mention), 2018-19 (CSCAA First Team)
Matija Rafaj - 2017-18 (CSCAA First Team & Honorable Mention)
Luka Vulic - 2017-18 (CSCAA First Team & Honorable Mention)
Christian Cioffi - 2017-18 (CSCAA First Team & Honorable Mention)
Georgios Veliadis - 2017-18 (CSCAA First Team & Honorable Mention)
Michael Southward - 2017-18 (CSCAA First Team & Honorable Mention)
Kosta Mitrovic – 2019-20 (CSCAA First Team)
Matthew Daniel – 2019-20 (CSCAA Honorable Mention)