Five swimmers earn perfect 4.0 GPAs

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas swimming and diving team posted a 3.37 grade point average for the spring 2007 semester with five swimmers earning University of Arkansas Women’s Athletics Department Academic Champion honors with perfect 4.00 GPAs. Junior Stephanie Carr, freshman Allison Chinn, junior Emily Gregory, junior Katie McGraw and senior Kristen Thibodeaux all had perfect 4.0s in the spring semester marking the most student-athletes of any sport with perfect grades. “I am very proud of the efforts that the swimmers and divers have put forth in the classroom this year,” said head coach Jeff Poppell. “As student-athletes, we strive for excellence in academics just as we do success in our sport. They did a fantastic job!” Carr, a junior transfer from the University of Georgia sat out last season, but will have tremendous impact in the distance free events. She is a majoring in journalism. Chinn is a biology major and butterfly specialist. Gregory, a Burnsville, Minn., native, holds the school records in the 100 and 200 fly and is majoring in mathematics. McGraw is a junior transfer from Georgia Tech that is majoring in finance. Thibodeaux was one of two senior captains on this year’s squad. She earned Southeastern Conference swimmer of the week honors and was a recipient of the 2006-07 Brad Davis SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship. She received her bachelor’s degree in marketing and is pursuing her MBA. Two Lady’Backs were named to the Athletic Director’s list with grades in the 3.50-3.99 range. Senior Mariann Fulop and freshman Tori Kennedy, both majoring in recreation, were honored. Swimming and diving had five athletes on the Women’s Athletics Department Honor Roll with GPAs from 3.00-3.49. They were sophomore Elizabeth Engs (biology), sophomore Summer Jackson (political science), junior Brieanne Kushner (human development), freshman Hannah Mertz (accounting) and sophomore Macey Webb (kinesiology). The Lady’Backs finished the regular season 4-4 in dual meets, the most wins the program has seen since the 2002-03 season. Arkansas also turned in 80 individual-best times with Gregory breaking her previous school record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:02.88. For more information about Arkansas swimming and diving, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.