Greensburg Central Catholic graduate and Johns Hopkins swimmer Mikayla Bisignani earned two prestigious honors.

Bisignani, a sophomore, was the recipient of the Elite 90 award and made first-team All-America in a relay at the NCAA Division III championship meet March 20-24 in Greensboro, N.C.

The Elite 90 award is given to a sophomore or upperclassman with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 90 championships. A double major in molecular and cellular biology and psychology, Bisignani has a 4.0 cumulative GPA.

She was presented the award during the championship banquet.

“Athletics and academics have always been extremely important aspects of my life,” said Bisignani, a Latrobe resident, who was selected for the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America team last spring. “I appreciate and feel blessed to receive any honor encompassing both, but this one truly means a lot to me because it took more intense work than any title in the past.

“Swimmers and divers are some of the — if not the — most dedicated types of people I know. To receive something among such an admirable group is truly an honor.”

Coach Scott Armstrong said it is uncommon for an athlete from Johns Hopkins to receive the award.

“The reality is that Hopkins is an extremely rigorous school,” Armstrong said. “(Bisignani) is competing against every student from every school out there and in every major offered.”

Bisignani said making All-America was a bonus. She swam the third leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay (1 minute, 33.73 seconds) that placed fourth. The Blue Jays finished 13th of 40 teams.

“The All-American title had definitely been in the back of my head earlier in the season as something to reach for, but I did not think about it at the meet because my main goal was just to give it my best and have fun for and with my teammates,” said Bisignani, a three-time PIAA Class AA finalist in the 50 freestyle.

Armstrong said Bisignani took a big step forward.

“(She) proved to be one of the top sprint swimmers on one of the top teams in the nation,” he said. “With her continued focus, she can be an individual qualifier in her junior or senior (season).”

Bisignani also is a member of the track and field team. A thrower, she earned the Centennial Conference discus title after walking on last season.

“Mikayla is an amazing young woman,” Armstrong said. “She is so hardworking.”

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