Seven Gymnasts Honored As Academic All-Americans
9/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Sept. 3, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Seven Michigan State gymnasts, including four-time honoree Ilene Cohen, earned National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) Academic All-American honors in 2003, and MSU's team grade point average of 3.469 was the 10th best in the nation. The organization released its 2003 rankings Tuesday.
Cohen (Wantagh, N.Y.) is just the second Spartan to earn NACGC/W academic honors in each of her four years at State. Additionally, 2003 senior Julie Devaty (North Olmstead, Ohio) earned a perfect 4.0 last year. MSU's seven honorees match a program record set last year.
"I'm thrilled that our team matched the number of Academic All-Americans we had last year," said head coach Kathie Klages. "I know they worked really hard as a group to improve their GPA. As the 10th-best academic team in the nation, they should be very proud of themselves. It's definitely a credit to our academic advisors, Kimya Massey and Angela Howard, as well as the rest of the SASS (Student-Athlete Support Services) staff."
The seven Spartans honored include three graduating seniors, one 2003 junior, two 2003 sophomores and one 2003 freshman. In addition to Cohen and Devaty, senior Diana Crea (Beaver Falls, Pa.) had a 3.58. Junior Lindsey Voth (Sarasota, Fla.) earned a 3.79. Lauren Simpson (3.92) of Fenton, Mich., and Anna Hunsinger (3.73) from Elizabethtown, Ky., both 2003 sophomores, and 2003 freshman Leia Langhoff (3.78) of Midland, Mich., round out Michigan State's 2003 honorees.
The Spartans' team GPA is the best in the Big Ten, and they have raised their GPA in each of the last three years. In 2001, MSU had four honorees and a 2.977 team average. Last year, the Spartans boasted seven Academic All-Americans and a team GPA of 3.119.
Southern Utah topped the 2003 team list with a squad GPA of 3.76.
2003 NACGC/W ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
Name GPA 2003 Elig. Hometown Major
Ilene Cohen 3.90 Sr. Wantagh, N.Y. Human Biology
Diana Crea 3.58 Sr. Beaver Falls, Pa. Kinesiology
Julie Devaty 4.00 Sr. North Olmstead, Ohio Education
Anna Hunsinger 3.73 So. Elizabethtown, Ky. Kinesiology
Leia Langhoff 3.78 Fr. Midland, Mich. No-Preference
Lauren Simpson 3.92 So. Fenton, Mich. Zoology
Lindsey Voth 3.79 Jr. Sarasota, Fla. Kinesiology
2003 NACGC/W TOP TEN ACADEMIC TEAMS
Institution Team GPA Individuals Honored
1. Southern Utah 3.760 13
2. Cornell University 3.674 14
3. Utah 3.636 12
4. Eastern Michigan 3.577 12
5. Gustavus Adolphus 3.565 9
6. MIT 3.553 9
7. Nebraska 3.506 9
8. UCLA 3.497 11
9. Texas Woman's 3.473 11
10. MICHIGAN STATE 3.469 7