BETHLEHEM, Pa. - For the second year in a row, Mimi Watts of American University swimming & diving was named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year in her sport. Watts, who earned selection to the PL Academic All-League Team for a third year in a row, was joined by teammate Nick Buckley who earned Academic All-League honors for a third straight year as well.

Watts boasts a 3.86 GPA as a mathematics and economics major who will earn degrees in both in May. She is a three-time member of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America's (CSCAA) Scholar All-America team, and was the first for American to earn that honor since 2010 when she first got it in 2021.

Also for a third year in a row, Watts was named to the All-Patriot League First Team following another impressive showing at the Patriot League Championships that saw her win two gold medals and one silver, along with setting five school records. Watts captured individual conference titles in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, and in between those she earned a runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly. She broke her own school records in both of her individual wins, and was a part of three of four relay school records over the four-day meet. Watts set NCAA "B" standards in both freestyle events, going 22.38 in the 50 free and 49.34 in the 100 free.

Buckley, also a senior, was named to the 12-member PL All-Academic Team for men's swimming & diving. Buckley has a 3.99 GPA as a law and politics major and is now a three-time PL Academic All-League honoree. He advanced to C finals in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly at the Patriot League Championships, and was a part of two school record-setting relays in the 200 free and 400 free that had not been broken in 24 years.

2024 Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Mimi Watts, American
2024 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Max Verheyen, Loyola Maryland

2024 Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving Academic All-League Team
Mimi Watts, American
Meghan Cole, Army West Point
Margaret Kroening, Army West Point
Molly Webber, Army West Point
Sumi Cameron, Boston University
Esme Hunter, Bucknell
Caroline McGann, Bucknell
Sarah Hardy, Lehigh
Lily Mead, Loyola Maryland
Gabi Baldwin, Navy
Cameron Horner, Navy
Caroline Irwin, Navy

2024 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving All-Academic Team
Nick Buckley, American
James Pinter, Army West Point
CJ Bernauer, Army West Point
Joey Kling, Army West Point
Kyle Falkstrom, Boston University
Chris Kopac, Bucknell
Patrick Hayburn, Loyola Maryland
Henry Mueller, Loyola Maryland
Max Verheyen, Loyola Maryland
Patrick Colwell, Navy
Jake Doherty, Navy
Gavin Green, Navy

For more information on AU swim and dive, follow the team on Twitter (@AU_SwimDive), Facebook (@AU.SwimDive) and Instagram (@au_swim_dive).