Gym'Backs get it done in the classroom
Jump to team list FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas gymnastics team ranks seventh in the nation academically according to the National Association for Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women. The Gym’Backs posted a 3.5093 grade point average with nine current and former team members earning academic honors from the NACGC. "We are so proud of the work the girls have done in the classroom as well as on the competition floor," said co-head coach Rene Cook. "Doing well in school and making good choices in life translates to success in the gym and that’s what we’re seeing from this special group of athletes." The Gym’Backs were the highest ranked team in the Southeastern Conference ahead of No. 40 Florida who netted a 3.1935 GPA. Senior Audra Loveless leads Arkansas with a perfect 4.0 GPA in kinesiology. Whitney Cashwell and Hannah McLeod were next with identical 3.90 GPAs. Cashwell is a communication disorders major while McLeod is majoring in biology. Senior Katie Hardman is next with a 3.88 in kinesiology followed by Melissa Leigh with a 3.80 in kinesiology. Sophomore Emily Peacock was honored with a 3.79 while Kim Harris checked in with a 3.70 in marketing. Dana McQuillin also tallied a 3.70 in interior design and Brooke Lawrence rounded out the individuals with a 3.69 in kinesiology. Arkansas is seventh as a team behind Southern Utah University who leads the nation with a 3.714 team GPA and 13 gymnastics named to the all-America team. Arkansas ranked 14th in the team’s inaugural season of competition and was 10th in 2004. The team ranked 10th last year but vaults up to the number six spot this year. The Gym’Backs finished the 2005 season ranked 24th in the country while junior Dana McQuillin became the first Gym’Back to reach the NCAA Championship. This year, Arkansas hosts a six-meet home schedule that includes the 2006 NCAA Regional Championship April 8. For more information about the schedule or for tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.2005 NACGC/W Academic All-American – Team
| Institution | Team GPA | # of Individual Awards |
| Southern Utah University | 3.7140 | 13 |
| University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | 3.6719 | 11 |
| University of Denver | 3.5679 | 8 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 3.5644 | 7 |
| Texas Woman’s University | 3.5443 | 13 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 3.5156 | 11 |
| University of Arkansas | 3.5093 | 9 |
| University of Utah | 3.4877 | 8 |
| George Washington University | 3.4829 | 8 |
| Yale University | 3.4729 | 8 |
| Brown University | 3.4593 | 7 |
| University of Wisconsin, La Crosse | 3.4556 | 10 |
| Eastern Michigan University | 3.4485 | 12 |
| Hamline University | 3.4158 | 9 |
| Stanford University | 3.3969 | 5 |
| University of Illinois | 3.3946 | 6 |
| Pennsylvania State University | 3.3940 | 9 |
| Bowling Green State University | 3.3759 | 11 |
| Cornell University | 3.3718 | 9 |
| Seattle Pacific University | 3.3583 | 7 |
| Northern Illinois University | 3.3488 | 12 |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | 3.3487 | 8 |
| Boise State University | 3.3341 | 7 |
| Springfield College | 3.3338 | 6 |
| University of Rhode Island | 3.3186 | 7 |
| Michigan State University | 3.3153 | 8 |
| University of Maryland, College Park | 3.3135 | 6 |
| College of William and Mary | 3.2800 | 4 |
| Central Michigan University | 3.2643 | 4 |
| San Jose State University | 3.2611 | 6 |
| University of California, Berkeley | 3.2600 | 5 |
| University of Oklahoma | 3.2579 | 6 |
| Oregon State University | 3.2563 | 9 |
| University of Washington | 3.2513 | 5 |
| University of Michigan | 3.2480 | 5 |
| University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | 3.2338 | 4 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 3.2269 | 4 |
| Utah State University | 3.2206 | 4 |
| Rutgers University | 3.2170 | 10 |
| University of Florida | 3.1935 | 6 |
| Wilson College | 3.1920 | 4 |
| The Ohio State University | 3.1895 | 7 |
| Western Michigan University | 3.1868 | 8 |
| University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa | 3.1671 | 5 |
| University of Georgia | 3.1660 | 5 |
| University of Arizona | 3.1519 | 8 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | 3.1508 | 6 |
| West Virginia University | 3.1420 | 7 |
| University of Nebraska, Lincoln | 3.1300 | 4 |
| Louisiana State University | 3.1135 | 4 |
| Brigham Young University | 3.1106 | 5 |
| University of Pittsburgh | 3.0980 | 5 |
| Winona State University | 3.0650 | 3 |
| James Madison University | 3.0560 | 4 |
| University of Missouri, Columbia | 3.0342 | 5 |
| University of Wisconsin, Whitewater | 3.0318 | 3 |
| California State University, Fullerton | 3.0206 | 3 |
| Southern Connecticut State University | 3.0125 | 4 |
| California State University, Sacramento | 2.9400 | 6 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 2.9300 | 3 |
| University of New Hampshire | 2.9200 | 3 |
| University of California, Davis | 2.9126 | 4 |
| Towson University | 2.8827 | 4 |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 2.7423 | 2 |
| University of Iowa | individuals only | 3 |
| Iowa State University | individuals only | 2 |
| Kent State University | individuals only | 2 |
| Temple University | individuals only | 5 |
