WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary men's gymnastics
team has been awarded the 2012 national academic team title after posting the
country's top combined grade point average (3.53). This marks the fifth
time that Tribe gymnasts have won the national academic team title since the
inception of the award in 1991.
Tribe gymnasts also continue to lead the nation with more
individual Academic All-America Scholar-Athlete honors than any other program
in men's gymnastics.
In addition to the academic success, W&M finished the
2012 campaign ranked 14th nationally, while nine Tribe gymnasts competed as
individuals at the NCAA Championships last spring.
"The sustained effort it takes to excel at such a high level
in the classroom while devoting up to 20 hours a week in workouts and then
competing in or traveling to compete in meets against the best teams in the
nation on weekends is absolutely remarkable," said Cliff Gauthier, W&M
men's gymnastics head coach. "Success on and off the field of play is what
William and Mary athletics is all about, and I could not be prouder of our
team."
Six William and Mary gymnasts received first team Academic
All-American Scholar-Athlete designation by the College Gymnastics Association
for the 2012 season: rising seniors Matt Burns (psychology and business) and
Kris Yeager (American studies), rising
juniors Landon Funiciello (kinesiology and health sciences/pre-med), Daniel
Potemski (economics) and Sam Patterson (economics), and rising sophomore Peter
Ten Eyck (undeclared). Second-team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete
designations were awarded to graduating seniors Steve Deutsch (finance and
psychology), Daniel Melzar (kinesiology and health sciences), and Jonathan
Prohov (international relations-global studies), graduating junior Futa Ikeda
(neuroscience), and rising sophomores Michael Deitz, J. J. Jindra, and Jason
Wang, all with undeclared majors.
Prior to this year, W&M gymnasts claimed the national academic
team title in 1991, 1992, 2002 and 2008. The Tribe gymnasts also placed second
in 1994, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2009, and finished third in 1999, 2006, and
2011.
