Trio of 'Dogs named Academic All-District®

FRESNO, Calif. - Three Fresno State water polo players earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® honors for their success in the classroom and their contributions in the pool in the 2024 season. Abbey Simshauser, Elisa Grim and Kaitlin Howarth were recognized by CSC on Tuesday.

Simshauser advances as a candidate for Academic All-America consideration.

The senior from Australia was the team's leader with 109 points coming by 72 goals and 37 assists. She also added 46 drawn exclusions and 54 steals. Her 72 goals are the second-most in a season behind only sophomore Hailey Andress from this season. Simshauser set the program record with 54 steals on the year. She also tied the program's single game record with six goals scored against Long Beach State on Feb. 24.

Simshauser was an honorable mention ACWPC All-American performer this season. She carries a 3.85 cumulative GPA in her sports psychology program.

Grim, a back–to-back CSC Academic All-District honoree, carries a cumulative 3.95 GPA in exercise science. This season, she participated in all 29 games for the Bulldogs. She scored 19 goals and added 19 assists. She also contributed with 14 drawn exclusions and 23 steals this season.

Howarth, who completed her master's program this spring with a 4.00 GPA, appeared in 23 games this season. She missed time with the Bulldogs to compete with the New Zealand National Team. Howarth scored 18 goals and added nine assists in her time in the pool this season, including the go-ahead goal in the Golden Coast Conference championship game.

The three Bulldogs honored were all large contributors to Fresno State's Golden Coast Conference tournament championship run, helping the program to win its fourth-straight GCC title.

The 2024 Academic All-District® Women's At-Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.