Pepperdine divers earn CSCAA Scholar All-American honors

By McKenzie Jackson · Sat Jul 18 2026

Jackie Johnson and Vivian Vallely become the first Scholar All-Americans in Waves swim and dive history

Pepperdine Waves swim and dive team divers Jackie Johnson and Vivian Vallely were named to the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Individual Scholar All-American Second Team this month.

Johnson, a sophomore, and Vallely, who graduated this year, are the first Scholar All-Americans in the swim and dive program's history.

Waves head coach Dan Marella is proud of the pair.

“It’s a milestone that speaks to the culture this team continues to build,” he said.

Eligibility for All-American status is determined by national championship participation — Johnson and Vallely both qualified for NCAA Diving Zones — and maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA.

Pepperdine diver Jackie Johnson named to the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Individual Scholar All-American Team, Johnson and Vallely are the first two from the Pepperdine swim and dive team to earn the honor. Contributed photos

Additionally, the Waves were named a CSCAA Scholar All-American Team for the 22nd straight semester.

Marella praised the team for posting the two highest semester GPAs in program history during the 2025-26 academic year.

"It's a testament to our commitment to excellence in both the classroom and the pool,” Marella said. “Our philosophy has always been that academic and athletic success go hand in hand, and this achievement reflects the dedication our student-athletes bring to both every single day.”

The Waves' 32-person roster combined for a 3.60 GPA, with 24 swimmers and divers earning an A-minus average or better and 12 earning a 4.0 GPA in either the fall or spring semester. Pepperdine student-athletes overall recorded a 3.370 GPA during the school year.

Teams must post a grade-point average of 3.00 or higher during the spring 2026 semester to earn Scholar All-American Team status. Nationwide, 714 teams from 418 institutions were honored, representing 16,680 student-athletes.

Twenty-four Waves were named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Women's Swim and Dive All-Academic Team in April. Vallely and fellow divers Ava Langheim, Delainey Pisaruk, and Amanda Wong were named to the list. The swimmers honored were AJ Adams, Layla Busquets, Mollie Cho, Natalie Do, Elliot Easton, Kiana Fan, Emily Garrison, Ansley Halbach, Lexi Haymart, Chloe Inouye, Saskia Jager, Jordyn Larson, Maddie McLeay, Nora Rabe, Anna Ryan, Emme Spevak, Charli Sunahara, Kylie Taylor, Sophia Ware, and Maddie Wheeler.

Freshmen are not eligible for the MPSF honor, which is why Johnson did not receive the recognition.

The Waves won their third conference title in three seasons — capturing the PCSC championship in 2024 and MPSF championships in 2025 and 2026 — earlier this year and set 13 new program records during the season.