Program-Best 13 Gymbacks Earn WCGA Academic Honors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorback gymnastics team not only excelled on the competition floor during the season, but also had a record year in the classroom as a program-high 13 Gymbacks were named Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Academic All-America Award winners, the organization announced Wednesday.

Arkansas saw an increase in team grade point average from 3.597 last academic year to 3.691 in 2020-21. This places the Gymbacks in 34th in the nation, and bumped them from fourth to first among SEC teams. Thirteen members of the squad posted GPAs of 3.5 or higher, which is a new team best: Sophia Carter, Amanda Elswick, Kiara Gianfagna, Kennedy Hambrick, Abigail Johnston, Sydney Laird, Bailey Lovett, Margaret O’Hara, Jordan Olszewski, Savannah Pennese, Claire Rogers, Jensen Scalzo and Sarah Shaffer.

“Congratulations to the student-athletes, coaches, and support staff on a record-breaking year of academic success,” Kerrie Turner, WCGA president and head coach at Bowling Green, said. “The balance needed to be a successful student and athlete takes considerable planning and intentional effort, which was certainly heightened during pandemic conditions. I am thrilled to see women’s gymnastics achieving incredibly high standards in the classroom during this challenging time.”

Arkansas helped contribute to a greater trend of academic success among gymnastics teams across the country. The WCGA saw new records in teams with GPAs of 3.5 and higher with 58, in athletes with 4.0s at 223, and named over 1,000 athletes as Academic All-America recipients for the first time ever.

A full list of GPAs submitted by teams is attached. Also listed by team are WCGA Academic All-America Award winners, an honor award to student-athletes who posted GPAs of 3.5 and above in the 2020-21 academic year.

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