Gym'Backs get it done in the classroom

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas gymnastics team continues its classroom success and was ranked as one of the top teams in the nation for grade point average by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women this week. Arkansas’ 3.3008 was good for 31st place overall and puts the Gym’Backs in the middle of the always dominate Southeastern Conference. Junior-to-be Allison Daniels led a group of four gymnasts who earned selection to the all-scholar team. Daniels was tied for first overall with a perfect 4.00 GPA. “We are so pleased with the academic success of this team,” said Arkansas co-head coach René Cook. “It is an element that we look at when recruiting a student-athlete and it is something we continue to stress when the gymnasts get to campus.” Daniels, a Kingwood, Texas, native, was an uneven bars specialist for Arkansas helping the Gym’Backs to a 10th place finish at the 2008 NCAA Championship in Athens, Ga., Daniels posted a career-best 9.85 twice last year. She is a pre-nursing major at Arkansas and it is her second selection to the academic team. Samantha Cortez made it three in a row finishing with a 3.88 GPA in psychology. Cortez graduated in May and is returning to Arkansas as the Gym’Backs’ director of gymnastics operations while pursuing her master’s degree this fall. Emily Peacock was selected for the fourth time with a 3.63 GPA in journalism. She graduated in May as well. Senior-to-be Alex LaChance rounds out Arkansas’ individual honors. LaChance is a three-time selection with a 3.57 GPA in kinesiology at Arkansas and is the lone returning senior for the Gym’Backs in 2008-09. Southeast Missouri State captured the top team spot with a 3.82 GPA. Alabama finished 13th overall and first for the SEC, followed by No. 19 Georgia, No. 22 Auburn, No. 31 Arkansas, No. 36 Florida, No. 54 LSU and No. 62 Kentucky.
2008 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGIATE GYMNASTICS COACHES FOR WOMEN ACADEMIC TEAM

Arkansas’ Individual Honors