June 12, 2003

STAMFORD, CONN. - University of North Carolina junior freestyler Jessi Perruquet, the NCAA swimming co-champion this past year in the 200-yard freestyle, was named Thursday to the 2002-03 Verizon Academic All-America University Division Women's At-Large Team. A native of Danville, Pa., Perruquet is one of only 15 student-athletes named to the first team of the prestigious academic honor squad. She is one of only four juniors on the first team. The other 11 are all seniors.

Perruquet carries a cumulative grade point average of 3.70 while majoring in elementary education at Carolina. This past year she was the NCAA co-champion in the 200-yard freestyle as well as the sixth place finisher in the 100-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships. She was also named the 2003 ACC Swimmer of the Year. Perruquet was also an All-America selection in both 2001 and 2002.

The Verizon At-Large Academic All-America Awards honor those participants in the women's sports of rowing, swimming, golf, fencing, rifle, tennis, gymnastics, diving, skiing, ice hockey, lacrosse and field hockey.