A total of 23 Auburn student-athletes graduated as part of the Auburn University Fall 2009 graduating class on Friday.

The graduates represent 11 of Auburn’s sport programs, including eight from football, three from women’s swimming and diving, two each from men’s swimming and diving and men’s and women’s basketball, along with one from baseball, softball, men’s tennis, men’s track and field, women’s track and field and volleyball.

“This is an exciting moment in the lives of our student-athletes that are receiving their degrees,” said Jim Rost, Associate Athletics Director, Student-Athlete Support Services. “It is the culmination of their hard work in the classroom and is a stepping-off point to the next phase of their life, as individuals and professionals. We are incredibly happy for them and proud of what they have accomplished, and for what they will accomplish once they leave Auburn.“

The 23 graduates collectively hail from eight states and two countries. The group includes one Olympian, one national champion, four All-Americans, three Southeastern Conference champions and seven SEC Academic Honor Roll recipients.

2009 FALL GRADUATES
Baseball—(1) Josh Bell (Jackson, Tenn.)

Men’s Basketball—(2) Rasheem Barrett (Atlanta), Quantez Robertson (Cincinnati)

Women’s Basketball—(2) Chantelle Blakely (Nasvhille, Tenn.), Mandisa Stevenson (Decatur)

Football—(8) Clayton Crofoot (Orlando, Fla.), John Cubelic (Birmingham), Zac Etheridge (Troy), Tim Hawthorne (Homewood), Jeno James (Montgomery), Montavis Pitts (Loachapoka), Darrell Roseman (Dunedin, Fla.), Craig Stevens (Tallahassee, Fla.)

Softball—(1) Tatiana Fernandez (Miami)

Men’s Swimming & Diving—(2) George Bovell (Trinidad & Tobago), Scott Morgan (Nashville, Tenn.)

Women’s Swimming & Diving—(3) Chelsea Haser (Sykesville, Md.), Margo McCawley (Memphis, Tenn.), Kara Nelson (Portland, Ore.)

Men’s Tennis—(1) Lukas Marsoun (Klando, Czech Republic)

Men’s Track & Field—(1) Jhak Keegan (Palo Alto, Calif.)

Women’s Track & Field—(1) Raevan Harris (Tuscaloosa)

Volleyball—(1) Sara Shanks (Madison)

Cielo sets another record
SAO PAULO, Brazil — Former Auburn swimmer Cesar Cielo set the 50m free world record on the second day of competition at the 2009 Brazil Long Course Championships.

Cielo posted a time of 21.02 during the preliminary round on Thursday night, just .08 away from former Auburn teammate Fred Bousquet’s world time of 20.94. Then, in the finals Friday morning, Cielo came out and clocked a new global standard of 20.91 to just best Bousquet’s mark that he set on April 26 of this year at the French National Championships.

“It was an amazing performance by Cesar this morning and the home crowd went crazy when 20.91 popped up on the screen,” head coach Brett Hawke said. “I was lucky to be in France when Fred broke the record and now I’m fortunate to be here in Brazil to witness Cesar break Fred’s mark.

“If an Auburn swimmer is going to lose a world record then nothing is better than it going to another Auburn swimmer. Cesar and Fred are both champions and we are so lucky to have two special athletes who do extraordinary things represent Auburn. I am very happy for Cesar.”

Cielo also competed in the 400 free relay, recording a leadoff time of 47.29. He, along with teammates Andrew Daudt, Fernando Da Silva and Gabriel Mangabeira took first in a time of 3:16.30.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Cielo came away with the gold medal in the 50 free and is the 2009 World Champion in the event. He also finished his three-year career at Auburn with two NCAA titles and three SEC titles in the 50y free.