Southeast Missouri State gymnasts land title of 2011 academic national champion

~ The Redhawks' 3.91 GPA earned the 2011 academic national championship

The Southeast Missouri State women's gymnastics program is back on top academically.

It was announced Monday that Southeast has been named the 2011 academic national champion by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women.

This marks the fourth time in five years that the Redhawks have won the prestigious award. Their string of three consecutive academic titles was interrupted last year when they finished second.

The Redhawks' grade point average was 3.91 during the 2010-11 academic year. That ties for the highest GPA for a team in the history of the award, matching the mark set by the Redhawks in 2009.

"Our ultimate goal is to always make sure every student-athlete receives a quality education and is given every opportunity to be successful both in the classroom and in the gym," Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko said. "Our team has set a very high standard this year. We will strive to be successful both academically and competitively."

All 17 Southeast team members from last season earned NACGC/W All-Academic honors for having a 3.5 or better GPA. The Redhawks had nine athletes achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA during the 2010-11 academic year.

Southeast gymnastics with perfect 4.0 GPAs for 2010-11 were Megan Fosnow (health management/exercise science), Brianna Gaddie (health management/exercise science), Emma Garrett (exercise science/dietetics), Jacqueline Heath (physics), Erica Moore (health management/exercise science), Margaret O'Neal (pre-medicine/biology), Kimberly Pickerl (dietetics), Christa Soekamto (biology/biomedical sciences) and Taylor Westrick (health management).

Also earning All-Academic honors were Erin Brady (3.80 GPA, undecided), Sarah Brillhart (3.56, elementary education), Tamara Gent (3.84, nursing), Emily Mann (3.90, communication disorders), Samantha Marrero (3.80, undecided), Angela Serafini (3.89, dietetics), Christina Sundgren (3.81, physics) and Taryn Vanderpool (3.90, pre-medicine/biology).