School-Best Nine Huskers Named Academic All-Big 12

DALLAS ? A school-record nine University of Nebraska baseball players were honored Tuesday afternoon, as the conference office released its academic All-Big 12 team.

The list is headed by two-time selections Daniel Bruce and Curtis Ledbetter. Bruce, who garnered Academic All-District honors last week, was selected to the first team for the second time, as he carries a 3.8 GPA in English. Bruce was one of five Huskers on the first team, joining pitchers Justin Pekarek, Mike Sillman, Jeremy Becker and Dustin Timm. All four pitchers a first-time selections.

Ledbetter is the Huskers’ other repeat selection on the squad, leading a contingent of four Huskers named second-team Academic All-Big 12. He is joined on the second team by catcher John Grose, second baseman Jake Mullinax and pitcher Phil Shirek.

In all, Nebraska’s combined nine selections were a league high and topped the previous high of eight set in 2003, while the five first-team honorees mark the third time in the last six seasons that NU had at least five first-team Academic All-Big 12 selections.

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the baseball academic all-league squad consisted of 29 first-team members combined with 17 on the second team. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his team’s scheduled contests. Pitchers must have at least one inning pitched per game played by the team or have appeared in 35 percent of their team’s total games. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation also are eligible.

Many of these student-athletes will compete at the 2004 Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Baseball Tournament Wednesday-Sunday at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, Texas. Nebraska will take on No. 1 Texas at 8 p.m. (CDT).

First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (3.20-PLUS GRADE POINT AVERAGE; *INDICATES NOMINATED WITH A 4.00 GPA)

Name, School

Class

Major

Hometown

Michael Griffin, Baylor

Jr.

Accounting

Dallas, Texas

Sean Walker, Baylor

Jr.

History

La Mesa, Calif.

Tyler Bullock, Baylor

So.

Pre-Business

Fort Worth, Texas

Zach Dillon, Baylor

So.

General Studies

Urbandale, Iowa

Ryan LaMotta, Baylor

So.

Pre-Business

Sugar Land, Texas

Andy Pape, Baylor

So.

Pre-Business

San Antonio, Texas

Ryan Baty, Kansas

Sr.

Communication Studies

Wichita, Kan.

Chris Smart, Kansas

Sr.

History

Omaha, Neb.

Danny Wilson, Kansas State

Sr.

Kinesiology

Manhattan, Kan.

Jason Long, Kansas State

So.

Management

Midwest City, Okla.

Chris Carlson, Kansas State

Fr.-RS

Business Administration

Topeka, Kan.

Mark Alexander, Missouri

Sr.

Accountancy

Independence, Mo.

Ryan Rallo, Missouri

Sr.

General Studies

Chesterfield, Mo.

Garrett Broshuis, Missouri

Jr.

Psychology

Advance, Mo.

James Boone, Missouri

So.

Business

Clinton, Okla.

Mike Swindell, Oklahoma

Sr.

Sociology

Wildomar, Calif.

Matt Bose, Oklahoma

Jr.

Marketing

Midland, Texas

Blake Hurlbutt, Oklahoma

Fr.-RS

University Studies

Enid, Okla.

John Forrest, Oklahoma State

Sr.

Public Relations

Edmond, Okla.

Mario Matulich, Oklahoma State

Sr.

Education

Mineola, N.Y.

Daniel Rew, Oklahoma State

Sr.

General Business

Fayetteville, Ark.

Justin Moore, Texas A&M

Sr.

Finance

Katy, Texas

Erik Schindewolf, Texas A&M

Sr.

Industrial Distribution

Spring, Texas

Corey Gerstner, Texas Tech

Sr.

Advertising

Lubbock, Texas

Second Team (3.00 to 3.19 gpa)

Name, School

Class

Major

Hometown

Jared Clements, Baylor

Sr.

Human Performance

Waco, Texas

Kevin Sevigny, Baylor

So.

Pre-Business

Springvale, Maine

Matt Tribble, Kansas

Sr.

History

Wheaton, Ill.

Josh Heinrich, Kansas State

Sr.

Finance

Englewood, Colo.

Terry Blunt, Kansas State

Jr.

Operations Management / Marketing

Andover, Kan.

Taylor Parker, Missouri

So.

Biology

Bellaire, Texas

Mark Roberts, Oklahoma

Sr.

Sociology

Owasso, Okla.

David Purcey, Oklahoma

Jr.

Marketing

Dallas, Texas

Justin Simmons, Texas

Sr.

Finance

DeSoto, Texas

Michael Hollimon, Texas

Jr.

Kinesiology

Dallas, Texas

Seth Johnston, Texas

Jr.

Corporate Communication

Boerne, Texas

Coby Mavroulis, Texas A&M

So.

Agricultural Development

Abilene, Texas

Steven Thomas, Texas Tech

Sr.

Management and Marketing

Kingwood, Texas