DENVER - The University of Denver gymnastics team earned the 11th highest team grade point average in the country, and seven Pioneers were named 2009 Scholastic All-America Award Winners, the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) announced today.
The Pioneers compiled a 3.449 GPA, making them one of just six schools to rank in the top 18 in the nation both competitively and scholastically. Alabama, Stanford, Missouri, Arkansas and Utah also accomplished the feat.
Senior Nikki Brown (Louisville, Ky.) led the way for DU with a perfect 4.0 GPA in cognitive neuroscience. Ellen McCarthy (Aurora, Ontario), Liz Meals (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Kelley Hennigan (The Woodlands, Texas), Brianna Springer (Arvada, Colo.), Lauren Garan (Cos Cob, Conn.) and Alex Winslow (Broomfield, Colo.) also received Scholastic All-America status for earning GPAs of 3.5 or better for the year.
Southeast Missouri State University earned the National Academic Team Championship again with a 3.9124 composite team GPA, bolstered by 14 individual athletes with perfect 4.0s for the year. Perennial team contender Southern Utah University finished in second with a 3.68 and Michigan State University finished third with a 3.65.
The top 15 teams:
1.) Southeast Missouri State 3.91
2.) Southern Utah 3.68
3.) Michigan State 3.65
4.) Alabama 3.56
5.) Hamline 3.548
6.) Winona State 3.545
7.) Minnesota 3.52
8.) Eastern Michigan 3.51
9.) Ithaca 3.47
10.) Brown 3.451
11.) Denver 3.449
12.) Stanford 3.448
13.) Missouri .4457
14.) UC Davis 3.4447
15.) Springfield 3.434
