Swimmers lead all sports with eight 4.0 GPAs

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A total of 208 University of Arkansas student-athletes earned grades at or above a 3.0 grade point average for the fall 2008 semester the Razorback Athletics Department announced recently.

The No. 18 Razorback swimming and diving team led all teams with eight members of the squad earning 4.0 GPAs and being named to the Academic Champions list. Overall, 25 swimmers and divers were honored for their work in the classroom.

"I am very proud of the girls and their academic accomplishments this past winter,” head Razorback coach Jeff Poppell said. “Our swimming and diving team is extremely motivated and committed to excellence in the classroom as well as the pool. Last year’s team set the standard with the fourth-highest GPA in the country and nine Academic-All Americans. This year’s team is striving for the same high level of academic success."

Seniors Stephanie Carr and Madison Palmer consistently lead the team in and out of the water. Carr holds school records in the 500-, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events while maintaining a cumulative 3.97 GPA. For her part, Palmer is the Arkansas record holder in the one-meter dual and championship diving events and claims an overall GPA of 4.00.

Both girls are also active in the Fayetteville community and have been named to the SEC Community Service team during their careers at Arkansas.

The list of 208 honorees included 28 football players, 25 swimmers and divers, 24 soccer players, 23 men’s track and field athletes, 20 members of the baseball team, 19 softball players, 17 women’s track and field team members, 11 athletes from volleyball, 10 from gymnastics, seven women’s golfers, six each from men’s and women’s tennis, five from women’s basketball, four from men’s basketball and three from men’s golf.

In addition, the fall 2008 semester’s honors included 33 Razorback student-athletes with perfect 4.0 GPAs.

For more information about Arkansas athletics, please log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.