March 9, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland gymnastics squad placed 11 student-athletes on the 2009 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) All-Academic Team, the league announced Monday.
Seniors Kim Loew and Kelsey Nelligan; juniors Michele Brenner, Allie Dama, Brandi George, Margaux Meeks; sophomores Abbey Adams, Kaitlin Joseph, Lisa Reifschneider and Kelsey McDermid and freshman Becca Pang each garnered EAGL All-Academic status based on their success in the classroom. The honor is bestowed upon gymnastics student-athletes who hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the two previous semesters (or one previous semester for freshman).
Nelligan, a kinesiology major with a 3.69 GPA, is one of eight gymnasts league-wide to be selected to the EAGL All-Academic team for the fourth consecutive year. Brenner (kinesiology), Dama (psychology), George (kinesiology), Loew (criminology) and Meeks (international business/marketing) each are three-time recipients. Adams (biological sciences), Joseph (civil engineering), McDermid (undecided) and Reifschneider (kinesiological science) become repeat nominees.
Reifschneider, a native of Monrovia, Md., led the team with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Six other Terrapin gymnasts boasted GPAs of 3.5 or higher. The gymnastics squad has won four consecutive President's Cup Team GPA Awards for holding the highest annual cumulative GPA among the University of Maryland's 27 athletic teams.
"I am extremely proud of each of our members of the EAGL All-Academic Team," head coach Bob Nelligan said. "We pride our gymnasts on embodying the full meaning of being a student-athlete, and our team has done an excellent job both in the gym and in the classroom."
The Terps return to action Wednesday with the first of the two home meets to close the 2009 regular season. Maryland plays host to Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Wednesday and takes on Arizona, Penn State and Yale at 4 p.m. Saturday. Both meets will take place in the Comcast Center Pavilion and are free and open to the public.
Maryland Gymnastics 2009 EAGL All-Academic Team Honorees
| Name | Class | GPA | Hometown |
| Abbey Adams | So. | 3.18 | Spring, Texas |
| Michele Brenner | Jr. | 3.11 | New City, N.Y. |
| Allie Dama | Jr. | 3.65 | Lansing, Mich. |
| Brandi George | Jr. | 3.80 | Orlando, Fla. |
| Kaitlin Joseph | So. | 3.80 | Grand Rapids, Mich. |
| Kim Loew | Sr. | 3.88 | Allentown, Pa. |
| Kelsey McDermid | So. | 3.03 | Seattle, Wash. |
| Margaux Meeks | Jr. | 3.50 | Winter Garden, Fla. |
| Kelsey Nelligan | Sr. | 3.69 | College Park, Md. |
| Becca Pang | Fr. | 3.44 | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Lisa Reifschneider | So. | 4.00 | Monrovia, Md. |
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