NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Carleton College swimmer Erik Klontz (Sr./Bethesda, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) was recognized for excellence in the classroom and in competition as he was a first-team selection to the 2013 Academic All-America® Division III At-Large Team, as voted by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Carleton student-athletes have won the Academic All-America award a total of 20 times overall, including five times by members of the men’s swim program, tops among athletic programs at the College. Six of those 20 award winners were first-teamers, including the last four recipients.

A Chemistry major with a Biochemistry concentration, Klontz holds a 3.83 grade-point-average and joins men’s soccer player Simon Ginet in earning the Academic All-America award during the 2012-13 academic year.

Over the course of his career, Klontz picked up 14 All-MIAC citations—including four conference titles—and was an All-American three times as well as adding All-America Honorable Mention on two occasions. In his final campaign as a Knight, Klontz turned in some outstanding performances earning him the title of 2013 MIAC Swimmer-of-the-Year. He broke the conference record in winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races as well as the 200-yard freestyle relay. En route to successfully defending his MIAC crown in the 50 free, Klontz touched the wall at 19.66, which ranked as the third-fastest time in NCAA Division III history.

At this year’s NCAA Championships, Klontz captured All-America distinction with a seventh-place result in the 100 freestyle and was the national runner-up in the 50 freestyle. He also swam the leadoff leg of the 200 freestyle relay, helping the Knights pick up All-America Honorable Mention.

Klontz graduates next week as the school record holder in seven events: 50 and 100 freestyle; 100 butterfly; 200 medley relay; and 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays.

Klontz, is one of only two male student-athletes from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to be named to Academic All-American® teams. Eligible sports for men's at-large consideration include fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. Saint John’s golfer Dennis Granath was a third-team choice.

Carleton College Academic All-Americans®

The Academic All-America Teams program honors male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America; a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.

For more information about the Academic All-America Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.