ROCKFORD -- The 2016-17 Rockford boys varsity swimming and diving team was recently honored as the top academic swim team in the state of Michigan in Division 1.

The Ram swimmers earned this honor by having the highest composite grade-point average as a team.

Team rankings are based upon the collective academic performance of the entire varsity team, not just its top few individuals. Because each team’s ranking is calculated using the average GPA of the entire team, every member of the team must perform well in the classroom. The top 10 teams, ranked by GPA, receive academic all-state team honors.

In addition to being the #1 team in Division 1, Rockford had the second-highest GPA out of the 47 boys swim teams across all three divisions, just a few hundredths behind Okemos, the top academic team in Division 2.

Rockford’s aquatic teams have a long history of academic excellence, having also racked up numerous all-state and All-American academic honors in water polo. The Rams will be looking to continue this legacy when this year’s large junior class returns to compete in both swimming and water polo next year.