April 17, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina placed 14 equestrians on this year’s NCEA Academic All-America Team, it was announced last week. The awards were presented last Wednesday in Waco, Texas, at the opening ceremonies for the 2012 NCEA National Championships at the Extraco Events Center. Baylor Unversity President Ken Starr presented the award winners with their certificates at the opening ceremony.
“I am very proud of all our student-athletes who earned this honor, because it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to earn an academic award,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “Freshmen were not eligible to win it this year because competition statistics from last season were used in the formula, otherwise we would have had even more girls on this list. But our girls take their academics very seriously, and we have a mature group that understands what it means to be a successful student-athlete, and that means always doing well in the classroom.”
First Team
Paige Dekko
Maggie Fortune
Morgan Hale
Colvin Hedgepeth
Katie Kopf
Kimberly McCormack
Second Team
Audrey Jewell
Annie McDonald
Taylor Singmaster
Honorable Mention
Alex Arute
Carolyn Curcio
Kelsey Hart
Victoria Middleton
Amanda Pope
The Gamecocks had a record-setting semester in the classroom during the Fall 2011 academic term.
The equestrian team posted a GPA of 3.545, setting a new team record. The equestrian team was one of three sports at the University to set new team-high GPA’s during the Fall 2011 semester – women’s swimming & diving (3.618), equestrian (3.545), and men’s track and field (3.252).
“Along with congratulating our student-athletes on their academic success, I also want to extend a very special thanks and congratulations to our staff in the Dodie Academics Enrichment Center,” Major said. “Raymond Harrison, Rob Campbell, and everybody in the Dodie has worked very hard with all of our student-athletes, and we believe that all of our student-athletes will leave the University of South Carolina with the skills needed to succeed in today’s world.”
Thirty two of the 40 equestrians posted GPA’s at or above 3.0, earning them a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. Sixteen equestrians earned spots on the University of South Carolina’s Dean’s List, indicative of a 3.5 GPA or higher.
Eleven Gamecock riders had perfect 4.0 GPA’s, earning them spots on the President’s List. Making the President’s List last semester were – Alexa Anthony, Alison Ceresani, Melanie Cormier, Paige Dekko, Maggie Fortune, Colvin Hedgepeth, Allie Kraybill, Melody Malbin, Kimberly McCormack, Rachel Roter, and Adele Norton.
