Aug. 25, 2005

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Tuesday, August 23, 2005) The 2005 Redhawks gymnastics team was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC) as a 2005 NACGC Academic Team for their work in the classroom and maintaining a high standard in academics during the 2004-05 season. Additionally six Redhawks gymnasts were honored by the NACGC for academic excellence by awarded as NACGC Scholar Athletes.

This is the sixth-straight season the Redhawks have received the team honors. Overall the team finished with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.15 up from the team GPA of 3.12 that the team accumulated last season.

Seniors Kelly Baldridge, Tara Boldt (Lakeville, Minn./ T.A.G.S), Amanda Grimes (Lone Jack, Mo./ GAGE Gymnastics), juniors Natalie Watts (Pasco, Wash./ Mid Columbia Gymnastics Academy) and Brystol Powelski (Franklin, Wis./ Salto Gymnastics) and sophomore Alison Ezell (Kansas City, Kan./ Alpha Omega) were each honored as NACGC Scholar Athletes.

For Baldridge, who has since retired from competition but will continue to assist the team as a manager, it is her third-straight season she has been honored. She compiled a GPA of 3.71 last school year.

Boldt (3.5), Grimes (3.65) and Powelski (3.65) each received their second-straight award. Watts (3.6) and Ezell (3.75) received their first honors.

The six awards marks the most individual awards the team has received since the 1999-2000 season when seven student-athletes were honored.

Since taking over the program gymnastics head coach Tom Farden has had 16 NACGC Scholar Athletes in three seasons.

In order to be considered as an individual scholar athlete, the student-athlete must post a current year or cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better.

"Again, this is a grand example of academic and athletic achievement for our student athletes," said Farden. "They continue to show that they can excel in both areas of their collegiate careers."