By Michael Belmont
Gargoyle sports editor
Posted Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, The OG, sports

Uni High sports fans may know Michelle Mehnert as a girls cross country star, but this talented junior has also excelled in club swimming. On Sept. 28, USA Swimming, the official governing body of the sport in the United States, named Mehnert to its 2005-06 Women's Scholastic All-America Team.

Mehnert qualified for the distinction by earning enough points through USA Swimming's scoring system based on her grade point average, which must be at least a 3.5 for all All-Americans, and her placements in two individual events in the 2005 Speedo Sectional Championships in Minnesota. In the July 2005 competition, Mehnert competed in the 400 individual medley and the 200 freestyle, placing 86th and 119th, respectively.

“I knew that this award was in place,” said Mehnert, who transferred to Uni from Centennial last fall. “I knew I wasn't going to be able to swim for a year [because of IHSA rules on transfers], so [my dad and I] decided to go for the award to get my name out to recruiters. It's definitely something to put on a college resume.”

Mehnert has already competed in the 2006 Speedo Sectional Championships, placing 40th in the 200 backstroke and 53rd in the 400 IM. She hopes to qualify for next year's All-America team by maintaining her GPA, and looks to qualify for her senior year as well. Scholastic All-American distinction is for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

“I'd like to get it all three years,” she said.