July 23, 2010

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team recorded the nation’s second-best grade point average during the 2009-10 season, recording a GPA of 3.8905. Southern Utah broke the Redhawks streak of three-straight National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) National Academic Team Championships by 0.0018 of a percentage point with a GPA of 3.8923.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work that the team put into maintaining their academic reputation,” said Head Coach Kristi Ewasko. “To rank in the top-three in the nation academically is a feat in itself. We continue to strive to put the student before the athlete because an education is what they will leave Southeast Missouri State with once their gymnastic careers are completed.”

The team had a program-record 18 gymnasts who earned Scholastic All-American status as a result of 3.5 or better GPAs. Thirteen of those individuals recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs.

Wisconsin-Lacrosse (3.6600), Western Michigan (3.6323) and Michigan State (3.6194) rounded out the top five as the Redhawks finished ahead of fellow Midwest Independent Conference schools Texas Woman’s University (19th – 3.4156), Illinois State (25th – 3.3703), Illinois-Chicago (tied for 47th – 3.2600) and in-state rival Missouri (7th – 3.4992).

“I continue to be amazed by the academic and athletic success of our gymnastics team,” commented Southeast Missouri State Director of Athletics John Shafer. “They are truly gifted women and I want to congratulate them, the coaching staff and our academic support team. This is a very special group of people that worked together to achieve this accomplishment.”

The NACGC/W seeks to actively manage and develop the sport of women's gymnastics at the collegiate level and works with the NCAA and USA Gymnastics in order to provide the best possible experience for student-athletes.