ITHACA, N.Y. – The Illinois State gymnastics team had 13 student-athletes recognized as Scholastic All-America team members for the 2022-23 academic year based on data submitted to the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA).
Redbird gymnasts Isabelle Leah Davis, Kaitlyn Donovan, Carly Hawksworth, Julia Heiner, Reagan Hestermann, Jaye Mack, Katherine McGowan, Jazmine Neely, Mia Oh, Berta Pujadas-Rusinol, Mya Robinson, Sara Wabi and Joy Ziegenfelder each posted GPAs of 3.5 or above to earn WCGA Scholastic All-America honors.
"I'm extremely proud of our team's accomplishments this past year," ISU head coach Bob Conkling said. "To have 13 members of the team reach Scholastic All-America status from the WCGA is a tribute to their dedication and hard work, both in the gym and the classroom."
Overall, 1,075 student-athletes earned a 3.5 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale (68.65 percent of all reporting gymnasts), the second-most ever by total number and percentage since 2008. There were 228 student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA, and this was the third year in a row with more than 1,000 Scholastic All-America winners. Across all gymnasts this year, the average GPA was a 3.5685 which is the third highest (since available records in 2015), 54 institutions had a team GPA of a 3.5 or better, and in seven of the last eight years at least one institution each year has had 100 percent of its athletes qualify for this prestigious award.
"Once again, our student-athletes continue to pursue excellence in the classroom at an incredibly high level. To seeÂ
such amazing academic results, year in and year out, shows how dedicated our gymnasts are in all areas of their college experience," Melanie Hall, WCGA Chair of the Board and Head coach at Cornell University, said. "Across all conferencesÂ
and divisions, the passion, grit, determination, and constant time management skills our athletes display, is truly inspiring."
The WCGA is the advocate for women's collegiate gymnastics and puts out the list annually.
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