Seven Tigers Named to Academic All-Big 12 Teams

March 27, 2007

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Seven members of the No. 18 Missouri gymnastics team earned a spot on the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 Gymnastics teams, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. Missouri's seven selections, six on the first team and one on the second team, led the conference for the second straight season.

Seniors Alicia Gilmore and Amanda Pezzullo, juniors Julie Abaray, Nikki Bowman and Katie Kluga and sophomore Alicia Hatcher were named to the first team while sophomore Adrianne Perry was a second team selection.

Pezzullo is now a three-time first team honoree while Abaray, Gilmore and Kluga made the first team for the second consecutive year. Bowman was a second team selection last season.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the academic all-league gymnastics squad consists of 15 first team members combined with six on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

The Tigers host the 2007 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship at the Hearnes Center on Saturday, March 31 at 7 p.m. Mizzou will face off against No. 7 Nebraska, No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 15 Iowa State for its first Big 12 championship.

2007 Academic All-Big 12 Conference Teams

FIRST TEAM (3.20 -PLUS GPA)
Name, School Class Major Hometown
Kristy Bellinger, Iowa State Jr. Biology Omaha, Neb.
Ceilia Maccani, Iowa State So. Health and Fitness Management Racine, Wis.
Jasmine Thompson, Iowa State So. Performing Arts McDonald, Ohio
Julie Abaray, Missouri Jr. Broadcast Journalism Cincinnati, Ohio
Nikki Bowman, Missouri Jr. Marketing Virginia Beach, Va.
Alicia Gilmore, Missouri Sr. Advertising St. Charles, Mo.
Alicia Hatcher, Missouri So. Pre-Journalism Blue Springs, Mo.
Katie Kluga, Missouri Jr. Nursing Downers Grove, Ill.
Amanda Pezzullo, Missouri Sr. Nutrition and Fitness Wheaton, Ill.
Stephanie Carter, Nebraska Sr. Business Administration Bryn Athyn, Pa.
Michele Zabawa, Nebraska Sr. Elementary Education Omaha, Neb.
Brittney Koncak-Schumann, Oklahoma Sr. Health and Exercise Science/Pre-Medicine McQueeney, Texas
Lori Winn, Oklahoma Sr. Human Relations Oklahoma City, Okla.
Caitlin Hinkis, Oklahoma Jr. Psychology Simsbury, Conn.
Haley DeProspero, Oklahoma So. Zoology/Pre-Medicine McKinney, Texas
SECOND TEAM (3.00 TO 3.19 GPA)
Name, School Class Major Hometown
Ashley Alden, Iowa State Sr. Psychology Park City, Ill.
Jade Kvach, Iowa State Sr. Advertising Ames, Iowa
Katie Lasher, Iowa State Sr. Food Science Omaha, Neb.
Adrianne Perry, Missouri So. Textile and Apparel Management Columbia, Mo.
Vanessa Meloche, Nebraska So. Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ashley Jackson, Oklahoma So. Zoology/Pre-Medicine Hudsonville, Mich.