Nine Utah State Gymnasts Earn NACGC/W Scholastic All-American Honor

Nine Utah State [University] gymnasts, as well as the Aggie team, were recently recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) for their scholastic accomplishments last season. In total, the organization awarded 501 individuals who earned a collective grade point average of 3.78.

As a team, USU ranked 19th with a team GPA of 3.45, ranking second in the Western Athletic Conference behind Southern Utah, which ranked No. 2 overall with a 3.81 team GPA. Southeast Missouri was No. 1 with a team GPA of 3.91.

In order to be named a NACGC/W Scholastic All-American, a gymnast must have earned a grade point average of 3.54 or above. The nine Aggie gymnasts honored were Lyndsie Boone (3.54, entrepreneurship), Erica Huelsmann (3.94, biochemistry), Meagan Snodgrass (3.66, elementary education), Chelsea Marquardt (3.67, social work), Rebecca Holliday (3.72, journalism), Amanda Watamaniuk (3.67, human movement science/pre-physical therapy), Cammi Muhr (3.65, psychology), Christina Nye (3.62, human movement science/pre-physical therapy) and Julia Wilkins (3.91, undeclared).

"We are very proud of the team award as well as having nine individuals earn Scholastic All-American honors, recognizing the hard work that these ladies have done in the classroom," USU head coach Jeff Richards said.

The NACGC/W is a national association for women's collegiate gymnastics coaches, which seeks to provide the best possible experience for student-athletes. Working with the NCAA and USA Gymnastics, the association actively develops and manages the sport of women's gymnastics at the national collegiate level.

USU, which is entering its seventh season in the WAC, will only be one of four teams in the conference in 2012, as Boise State departed for the Mountain West and Cal State Fullerton discontinued gymnastics. The Aggies will face former WAC foe Boise State and future WAC opponent Denver, who joins the conference in the 2013 season. Utah State will also be the host institution for the 2012 WAC Championships on March 24.

Richards also announced some schedule changes, as the previous 2012 season-opener Jan. 9 has been cancelled and the Aggies will now open Jan. 13 at in-state rival Utah. Other schedule changes include adding Boise State Jan. 27, which will now be a tri-meet with Southern Utah. A duel against Wisconsin-Whitewater on Feb. 3 has been cancelled and the Aggies will now host Arizona State on that same date. USU has also added a road meet at Arizona on March 16 and cancelled a quad meet at Denver, Colo. on March 17.

Utah State gymnastics finished the 2011 season with a 3-18 overall and 1-4 WAC record. The Aggies finished fifth at the 2011 WAC Championships at San Jose, Calif.

For the complete 2012 Aggie Gymnastics schedule, fans can log onto the Athletics website.

For USU gymnastics ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305, or online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the "buy/renew tickets" under the "tickets" drop down menu.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.