June 8, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) recently announced its 2004 Academic All-America Softball Team and South Carolina’s Ashley Smith was among those listed. Smith was named to the second team CoSida Academic All-America team, marking the first time a Carolina softball player has earned this recognition at the national level.

Smith, USC’s starting catcher, is the youngest player among the first and second teams and she is one of two sophomores to make the final selection. A civil engineering major, Smith is also one of only two players to have a perfect 4.00 GPA. The other 4.00 student-athlete was Mississippi State’s Kate Jaspers, who was also named Academic All-American of the Year.

The Portage, Mich. native led the Gamecocks in hitting in SEC games this year with a .366 average and 15 RBI’s. In all games, Smith was second on the team in hitting with .302 and she had a team leading 29 RBI’s. Also named SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year, Smith led the team in doubles with 12 and recorded six home runs.

Including Smith, South Carolina has had seven CoSIDA All-District team selections, but this marks the first for a student-athlete to be named to the All-America team.

First Team
Megan Meyer, P, Jr., Seton Hall, 3.967, Biochemistry
Amy Harre, P, Jr., Southern Illinois, 3.716, Physiology
Carrie Eneix, C, Sr., Kent State, 3.913, Integrated Language
Katie Evans, IF, Sr., Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 3.89, Kinesiology
Natalie Furrow, IF, Sr., Michigan State, 3.66, Social Relations
Kate Jaspers, IF, Sr., Mississippi State, 4.00, Psychology
Marci Ridenbaugh, IF, Sr., Kent State, 3.972, Integrated Math
Sarah Martz, OF, Sr., DePaul, 3.805, Secondary Education/Math
Jaymie Voss, OF, Sr., Western Michigan, 3.96, Education
Kristen Zaleski, OF, Sr., Texas State, 3.47 Criminal Justice
Katie Shimon, DP, Sr., Drake, 3.66, Marketing
Academic All-American of the Year: Kate Jaspers, Mississippi State

Second Team
Jenny Gladding, P, Sr., Florida, 3.53, Criminology
Brooke Mitchell, P, Jr., La.-Lafayette, 3.518, Business Finance
Ashley Smith, C, So., South Carolina, 4.00, Civil Engineering
Kim Dodson, IF, Jr., St. Bonaventure, 3.78, Business
Dianna Korcak, IF, Sr., Jacksonville, 3.673, Elementary Education
Jackie McClain, IF, Sr., Alabama, 3.34, Secondary Education/Social Science
Kim Wilmoth, IF, Jr., Baylor, 3.97, Accounting
Erin Brooks, OF, Sr., Fordham, 3.86, Business Administration
Kris Burdine, OF, Sr., Ball State, 3.783, Marketing
Iyhia McMichael, OF, Sr., Mississippi State, 3.24, Business Administration
Wendy Jo Allen, DP, Sr., Arizona, 3.324, Business Management