May 30, 2006

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Although Chelsea Haviland received her diploma this past weekend, the awards continue to pile up for the senior diver. The four-time Patriot League "Diver of the Meet" was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic At-Large District I team as voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The Thief River Falls, Minn., native tallied one of the most impressive diving careers in West Point history. She graduates with three Academy, three plebe, three Patriot League Championship and two Crandall Pool records. Haviland also became the first Patriot League diver and Army female to participate at the NCAA Division I Championships this past March.

In addition to her success in the pool, the 2005-06 team captain served as the Brigade S-2/PAO (Public Affairs Officer) during her senior season. Her responsibilities with that position included serving as a liaison between cadets and media, informing the Corps of security regulations and public affair issues, arranging and monitoring security inspections and coordinating visits for important dignitaries and national media.

Despite all the distractions, Haviland maintained a 3.26 grade-point average and graduated ranked in the top five percent of her class. Haviland also made the Dean's List each academic semester and is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa for Management majors. Not only did she raise the bar in the classroom, but she raised it on the board as well. Of the 11 diving records she owns, she set six of them this past season.

The first record to fall was the Academy mark on the 3-M board (six dives) where Haviland posted a 319.20 against Navy. She shattered the Crandall Pool marks on the 1-M (six dives) and 3-M (six dives) board on senior day against Connecticut when she scored a 296.93 and 311.48 respectively. Her mark of 296.93 on the 1-M board also stands as an Academy record. The last of the diving records Haviland would set were in the same two events at the Patriot League Championships. She posted a 291.85 on the 1-M board and a 305.80 on the 3-M board.

The Gopher State native ended her illustrious career at the 2006 NCAA Division I Championships, where she became the Academy's first female swimmer or diver to advance to the national meet, placing 31st on the 3-M springboard and 33rd on the 1-M board.

Last Friday, Haviland was given the Academy's highest athletic honor in accepting the Army Athletic Association Trophy. The AAA Trophy is awarded to the graduating male and female cadet who displayed the "most valuable service to intercollegiate athletics during a career as a cadet." She is the third member, and the first diver, of the swimming and diving team to receive the honor joining Ann Marie Wycoff (1989) and Heidi Borden (2001).

Haviland also received an award at graduation for achieving the highest cumulative Physical Program score in her class.