Five Gymnasts Garner Pac-10 All-Academic Recognition
April 13, 2001
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Five Oregon State gymnasts were among those honored on the Pacific-10's All-Academic Team, which the league released Friday.
Lara Degenhardt was a first team selection, while Megan Suratt was a second team pick. Stephanie Bychowski, Elizabeth Jillson and Jerra Lopez all earned honorable mention recognition.
Degenhardt, a senior graphic design major, carries a 3.49 grade point average. Earlier this season, she was named a Verizon Academic All-District VIII second team selection, and this is the second consecutive season she's been a first team Pac-10 pick. She was a second team honoree as a sophomore. In the gym, Degenhardt earned second team All-American honors on floor as a junior and was the Pac-10 champion on that event as a sophomore. She's currently ranked 20th in the nation on that event.
Suratt, a sophomore majoring in exercise and sport science, boasts a 3.98 grade point average. This is her first Pac-10 academic honor, and she was the team's Outstanding Scholar Athlete recipient as a freshman. Suratt has officially competed on beam twice this season and has performed several other exhibition routines on that event as well.
Bychowski, a senior business administration major, has a 3.25 grade point average and is a three-time Pac-10 academic honoree. She was a second team selection last season and earned honorable mention status as a sophomore. Athletically, she ranks eighth nationally on bars and 12th on beam.
Jillson, a sophomore, has not yet declared a major but has a 3.29 grade point average. This is her first Pac-10 academic honor. She ranks 24th nationally on bars, the only event she competes.
Lopez, a pre-communications major, carries a 3.41 grade point average. She was also an honorable mention pick last season. A junior, Lopez has missed most of the season after rupturing her right Achilles' tendon in the fourth meet of the season.
In order to be considered for the Pac-10 All-Academic Team, athletes must be at least in their second year at their school, carry a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA and be a starter or significant substitute on their team.
