Aug. 15, 2012
SEATTLE - The season may be several months away but the GymDawgs are still making headlines. The National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) recently announced its Scholastic All-America awards for 2011-2012 and UW is well represented. As a team the Huskies come in at number 25 with a combined GPA of 3.377, ranking third among Pac-12 programs. Five members of the Washington gymnastics team were honored for their individual performance in the classroom, marking the first time since 2008 that any Huskies have made the list of Scholastic All-Americans. Junior Megan Whitney leads the way for the individual Huskies honored by the NACGC/W with a 3.81 GPA as a psychology major. This is the second time Whitney has been named a Scholastic All-American, the first coming after her freshman season at the University of Utah. In addition to this honor Whitney also earned a spot on the Pac-12 All-Academic team in 2012. Senior Ruby Engreitz was named a 2011-12 Scholastic All-American after posting a 3.74 GPA as a psychology and pre-nursing major. In addition, Engreitz joined Whitney on the Pac-12 All-Academic First-Team this past season and has been named to the conference All-Academic Team each of the last three years in addition to several other athletic and academic honors. Aliza Vaccher embodies excellence in the classroom as well as in competition. The 2012 Team MVP and two-time NCAA Finalist in the all-around competition was recognized as a Scholar All-American for her 3.63 GPA as a pre-major. The standout sophomore was also honored as a Second-Team Pac-12 All-Academic performer in 2012. McKenzie Fechter made the list of 2011-12 Scholastic All-Americans after sporting a 3.53 GPA. This is the first academic honor for the freshman pre-major who was also named "Most Consistent" by her teammates. Rounding off Washington's list of honorees is Junior Kylie Sharp, anthropology major with a 3.51 GPA. This is the first academic honor for Sharp as well. The junior is a key contributor on vault and earned the "Heart of a Champion" Award at this year's team banquet. |
