Five Gymnasts Named Academic All-Americans

A group of Wildcat gymnasts have been honored by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women as Academic All-Americans.

The Arizona women's gymnastics team has continued its long-standing success as a top performing program athletically and academically.

Five of the team's student-athletes have been named Academic All-Americans by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women.

University of Arizona seniors Alexis Greene and Bree Workman, who each finished their respective collegiate gymnastics careers in April, lead the quintet of gymnasts that also includes UA juniors Miranda Russell and Sarah Tomczyk, as well as UA sophomore Kristen Schmeider.

"I am proud of the effort these student-athletes put into their studies while being major contributors to the team's success," said head coach Bill Ryden. 

"They are dedicated to being the best in every part of their lives, not only as athletes," Ryden said.

Workman, a First Team All-Pac-10 honoree, boasts a 3.88 grade point average as an elementary education major. The academic All-America honor is the first for Workman, a native of Lansing, Mich., and a key four-year contributor in the Wildcats' lineup.

Greene, a Pac-10 All-Academic First Team honoree, has posted a 3.75 grade point average as a psychology major. The academic All-America award is the second for Greene, who was also was recognized following the 2007 season. Greene, a native of Severn, Md., was named to the All-Pac-10 Second Team on the floor exercise in 2008.

Like Greene, Schmeider also earns national recognition for the second time in her career. A 2008 Academic All-American, Schmeider holds a 3.75 grade point average as an accounting major.

Russell has added to her athletic and academic career, collecting her third-consecutive Academic All-America honor. A native of Oshkosh, Wisc., she was named a to the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team this past spring, while missing the majority of the season due to injury. Russell carries a 3.69 grade point average as Spanish major.

Tomczyk, who represented Arizona at the NCAA Championships as an individual qualifier, has been recognized as an Academic All-American for the second time her career. A native of Naperville, Ill., Tomczyk holds a 3.60 grade point average as an English major and was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Second Team in the spring.

The Wildcats will report to campus for the start of the fall semester on Aug. 24, as they begin their preparations for the 2010 season. The team will host the Pac-10 Championships in March.