Gratz Repeats as Elite 90 Winner
March 08, 2018 08:13 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – For the second straight season, West Virginia University senior Elizabeth Gratz earns the sport of rifle's top academic honor, as she was named the Elite 90 Award winner for NCAA Division I Rifle this evening at the NCAA Championships Banquet in Charleston, South Carolina.
A native of Sigel, Illinois, Gratz, a marketing major, shows a 4.0 grade point average (GPA).
"I'm really happy for Elizabeth and proud of her achievement," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "To win one Elite 90 Award is very impressive, but to win two back-to-back is special. Elizabeth has committed to her studies throughout her collegiate career, and to maintain a 4.0 GPA is a difficult task. She has been equally dedicated to her sport and embodies the true meaning of student-athlete."
Three different Mountaineers have claimed the Elite 90 Award since 2011-12, and Gratz is the first to earn two career honors.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America and a first-team honoree in 2017, Gratz is a four-time Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Scholar-Athlete, a three-time College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Academic Team honoree and a two-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 At-Large First Team. She also has been named to the President's List, as well as the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.
Gratz, alongside teammates Ginny Thrasher, Milica Babic, Morgan Phillips and David Koenders, will shoot for the top-ranked Mountaineers at this weekend's NCAA Championships, hosted by The Citadel on March 9-10, at McAlister Field House in Charleston. The five-time reigning National Champions, WVU seeks its nation-best 20th NCAA title.
A native of Sigel, Illinois, Gratz, a marketing major, shows a 4.0 grade point average (GPA).
"I'm really happy for Elizabeth and proud of her achievement," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "To win one Elite 90 Award is very impressive, but to win two back-to-back is special. Elizabeth has committed to her studies throughout her collegiate career, and to maintain a 4.0 GPA is a difficult task. She has been equally dedicated to her sport and embodies the true meaning of student-athlete."
Three different Mountaineers have claimed the Elite 90 Award since 2011-12, and Gratz is the first to earn two career honors.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America and a first-team honoree in 2017, Gratz is a four-time Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Scholar-Athlete, a three-time College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Academic Team honoree and a two-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 At-Large First Team. She also has been named to the President's List, as well as the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.
Gratz, alongside teammates Ginny Thrasher, Milica Babic, Morgan Phillips and David Koenders, will shoot for the top-ranked Mountaineers at this weekend's NCAA Championships, hosted by The Citadel on March 9-10, at McAlister Field House in Charleston. The five-time reigning National Champions, WVU seeks its nation-best 20th NCAA title.
Players Mentioned
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