Golden Flashes Gymnastics Finish 12th Nationally in Team GPA
8/19/2014 2:09:00 PM | Gymnastics
KENT, OHIO – The Kent State women's gymnastics team turned in another solid year in the classroom as a total of 11 Golden Flashes earned National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) Scholastic All-America Honors. Along with the 11 gymnasts that were named Scholastic All-Americans, the team as a whole turned in the highest team GPA in program history. Gymnasts were recognized for attaining a year-long or cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Jaymi Baxter, Marie Case, Stephanie Comini, Ellen Demarest, Milena Fabry, Clare Heisey, Whitnee Johnson, Kayla Kosmerl, Skyelee Lamano, Rebecca Osmer and Ashley Transue each received Scholastic All-America Honors. In addition, the Flashes finished 12th in the National with a team GPA of 3.5050.
"We (as coaches) are very pleased with how the girls finished up the year academically, it's one thing to be a good athlete, and another to be good academically, but to be able to be both and finished that strongly in academics, we couldn't be more proud of the girls" head coach Brice Biggin stated.
Kent State was undefeated during the 2014 Mid-American Conference regular season at 6-0 and earned its seventh straight NCAA Division I Regional appearance, while the team saw Marie Case make it to the NCAA Division I National Championships as an individual in the All-Around.
"It really shows the dedication that they have and shows the job the academic staff does to support our student-athletes" Biggin added, "This is something that there are a lot of people to thank and it starts with the Angie Hall, Assistant Athletic Director for Academic and Student Services, and the staff in academic and compliance services."
Biggin mentioned "the girls are the ones that have to go in there and do the job. As coaches it's very rewarding to see a team that really understands that academics are first and foremost the most important thing they do while they are here at Kent State."
Heisey posted the team's highest GPA with a 4.0, while Fabry came in with a 3.94.
Earlier this summer, seven Kent State gymnasts earned Academic All-MAC honors: Baxter, Case and Nicolle Eastman were All-MAC team as Kosmerl, Kelsey Lawless, Amiah Mims and Nicole Radon were All-MAC Honorable Mention.
2013-14 Top-15 Gymnastics Grade-Point Averages
1. Utah - 3.7827
2. TWU - 3.7600
3. SEMO - 3.6960
4. Western Michigan - 3.6567
5. Brown - 3.6306
6. Southern Utah - 3.5947
7. Illinois - 3.5431
8. Washington - 3.5192
9. Florida - 3.5162
10. Westchester - 3.5147
11. Alabama - 3.5121
12. Kent State - 3.5050
13. Seattle Pacific - 3.5023
14. Sacramento State - 3.4900
15. Towson - 3.4808
