Gymnastics Ranks Highly in Team GPA, 19 Earn WCGA Scholastic All-America Award

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) released its list of Scholastic All-America Award recipients as well as the cumulative team grade-point averages for all member institutions for the 2017-18 academic year on Monday afternoon. The Bombers faired extremely well in the announcement, ranking sixth among all programs across all divisions and placing 19 honorees on the list of Scholastic All-Americans. A record number of gymnasts achieved the stringent standards to be included as an award recipient. In 2017-18, 760 student-athletes met the required 3.5 GPA, an astounding number that represents nearly 55-percent of all women's gymnastics collegians. The previous high-water mark for honorees came two years ago with nearly 49-percent of eligible student-athletes taking home the award. "The emphasis the collegiate women's gymnastics programs have placed on academics is clearly highlighted by the success of our team and individual grade point averages," Kerrie Turner, WCGA president, said. "The 760 collegiate gymnastics student-athletes earning WCGA Scholastic All-America recognition have worked diligently to find the successful balance between gymnastics and academics. The WCGA truly commends the student-athletes, the academic support personnel and the coaches within each program supporting and striving for academic excellence." On the team side, Ithaca ranked sixth among the 82 programs that sponsor women's gymnastics at the collegiate level. The Bombers placed first among Division III programs, achieving a cumulative team GPA of 3.717. IC's 19 award winners ranked first among all 82 programs. The numbers represented a marked increase over last season, which saw the team achieve a 3.540 cumulative GPA and 13 team members taking home the award. Not only was it a record-breaking year for the WCGA in terms of total number of honorees, but also for the amount of student-athletes who achieved perfect 4.0 GPAs. A record number of student-athletes – 118 (8.54%) - earned a 4.0 GPA this year. This number has steadily risen since 2008 with 101 (7.68%) reaching academic perfection last year and 97 (7.52%) in 2015-16. For Ithaca, two student-athletes marked perfect 4.0 GPAs in sophomore Cassidy Marquette and since-graduated senior Hannah Donnelly. The other 17 Ithaca student-athletes to appear on the list were: Alexis Griffin (Fr.), Ava Lowell(Fr.), Baylie Trammell (So.), Caitlyn McBride (Jr.), Carolyn Nichols (Jr.), Courtney Christoforo (Fr.), Danielle Maffuid (Sr.), Elyse Ryden (So.), Katie Holcomb (Fr.), Kaylee Pacunas (Sr.), Kendra Balcerak (Sr.), Lauren Hansen (Fr.), Marin Sheridan (Fr.), Nina Bustamante (Jr.), Rachel Lee (Jr.), Savannah Gigandet (Fr.), and Victoria Gery (Jr.). Stay tuned for more information on Ithaca College gymnastics in the coming months!