February 14, 2007
Thirteen members of the fifth-ranked Texas A&M women?â„¢s swimming & diving team were named to the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 teams, the conference office announced on Tuesday.
The accomplishment is even more remarkable in that only 20 members of the team met the eligibility requirements for the academic honor. In order to be considered for academic all-Big 12 status, an athlete must have maintained a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) either cumulatively or over the past two semesters and must have competed in 60 percent of the team?â„¢s competitions for the year. Transfer-students and freshmen are not eligible for the award.
Junior Brittany Lentz (Humble) was one of only two student-athletes, men or women, to achieve a 4.0 GPA either cumulatively or over the past two semesters on any of the Big 12?â„¢s swimming & diving teams. This marks the second consecutive year that Lentz has been honored for having a 4.0.
Seniors Rebecca Sturdy (Anacortes, Wash.) and co-captain Whitney Thomson (Allen) earned academic all-conference honors for the first time. Both were named to the first team for having GPA?â„¢s above 3.20. Senior Meghan Nebera (Brentwood, Tenn.) also was named academic all-Big 12 for the first time, making the second team.
With Lentz leading the way, the junior class had another strong showing with four first-team selections and one second-team honor. Chelsea Helgason (Olympia, Wash.), Lentz, co-captain Beth McCullough (Austin) and Megan Rains (Puyallup, Wash.) all qualified for the first team while Jenni Stratton (Portland, Ore.) grabbed second team honors.
A&M?â„¢s lauded sophomore class landed as many selections, five, as the juniors. Big 12 Swimmer of the Year Codie Hansen (Arlington), Big 12 champion Julia Wilkinson (Stratford, Ont.) and All-American Kristen Heiss (Casper, Wyo.) all earned first team honors while both Marissa Jasek (San Antonio) and Kendall Smelser (Katy) were named to the second team.
The Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships begin tonight in College Station with both the 200-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relays. The Aggies will look to defend their title in the 800 relay that saw them break the all-time Big 12 record a season ago. The meet will begin at 6 p.m. at the Student Rec Center Natatorium. For more information, please visit AggieAthletics.com.