Gymnastics: Fourteen Named EAGL All-Academic
March 10, 2009 03:44 PM | General
March 10, 2009
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| Heather Izer |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Fourteen West Virginia University gymnasts have been named to the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) All-Academic Team.
WVU had previously earned a program best 14 honors in 2007. Thirteen Mountaineers received the award in 2008.
“This recognition is a good example that our girls really are student-athletes,” Coach Linda Burdette says. “Their academics are very important to them, to the program and to the coaches. We’re very happy to have them succeed both on the floor and in the classroom.”
NC State had the most honorees, placing 16 gymnasts on the team. New Hampshire and Rutgers also contributed 14 members to the team.
In order to be named to the EAGL All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher in the two previous semesters. Freshmen are also eligible, if they earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the fall semester.
Senior Heather Izer (speech pathology), and juniors Shelly Purkat (nutrition), Kiersten Spoerke (mechanical engineering) and Ashley Wilson (exercise physiology) were named to the team for the third time.
Five sophomores were honored on the team: Amy Bieski (speech pathology), Naja Johnson (general studies), Stephanie Keaton (fashion design), Faye Meaden (exercise physiology) and Jessica Young (journalism). The honors are the second for each but Young.
Additionally, senior Erica Watson (physical education) and junior Chelsi Tabor (physical education) were named to the team for the second time.
Finally, all three freshmen Mountaineers were named to the team in their first season: Tina Maloney (exercise physiology), Nicole Roach (exercise physiology) and Jenn Sharon (child development).
A total of 97 student-athletes from the eight EAGL schools were named to the 2009 EAGL All-Academic Team. Since the league’s formation in 1996, 56 Mountaineers have earned EAGL academic recognition.
The No. 20 Mountaineers (8-7 overall, 4-1 EAGL) conclude their regular season with a meet at No. 21 Iowa State on Friday, March 13, at 8 p.m. EST.
