Carter, Zabawa Named Academic All-Big 12

Dallas ? The Big 12 Conference named 18 student-athletes to the 2006 Academic All-Big 12 Gymnastics Team, including Nebraska juniors Stephanie Carter and Michele Zabawa, the league office announced Tuesday.

 

Carter, who was also a first-team honoree as a sophomore, is a business administration major at Nebraska. She has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll each of the last five semesters.

 

Zabawa, an Omaha native and elementary education major, earned a spot on the All-Big 12 team for the first time in her career. She is a four-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll honoree.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the academic all-league gymnastics squad consisted of 14 first team members combined with four on the second team.  First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

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 her team's scheduled contests. 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 are also eligible.

No. 11 Nebraska will host the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship this Saturday, March 25 at the BobDevaneySportsCenter at 7 p.m. No. 4 Iowa State, No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 13 Missouri will join the Huskers in the quest for the 2006 Big 12 team title. NU is the defending conference champion and owns a league-leading seven crowns. IowaState and Oklahoma have each earned one.

2006 ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 GYMNASTICS TEAM

First Team (3.20-plus GPA; *indicates a 4.00 GPA)

Name, School, Class - Hometown

     Major
Krystal Carney, Iowa State, Sr., Aurora, Colo.

     Interior Design
Kacey Oiness, Iowa State, Sr., Henderson, Nev.

     Psychology
Julie Abaray, Missouri, So., Hamilton, Ohio

     Journalism
Alicia Gilmore, Missouri, Jr., St. Charles, Mo.
     Advertising
Jodie Heinicka, Missouri, Sr., Seminole, Fla.

     Interdisciplinary Studies
Katie Kluga, Missouri, So., Downers Grove, Ill.
     Pre-Physical Therapy
Amanda Pezzullo, Missouri, Jr., Wheaton, Ill.
     Nutrition & Fitness
Lauren Schwartzman, Missouri, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
     Nutrition & Fitness
Sarah Zigler, Missouri, Sr., Franklin, Tenn.
     Communication
Stephanie Carter, Nebraska,  Jr., Bryn Athyn, Pa.
     Business Administration 
Michele Zabawa, Nebraska,  Jr.,Omaha, Neb.
     Elementary Education 
Tara Anderson, Oklahoma*, Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.
     Elementary Education
Kristen Cox, Oklahoma, Sr., HornLake, Miss.
     Human Relations
Brittney Koncak-Schumann, Oklahoma*, Jr., McQueeney, Texas
     Health and Sport Sciences 

Second Team (3.00 to 3.19 GPA)

Ashley Alden, Iowa State, Jr., Park City, Ill.
     Psychology
Jessica Oney, IowaState, Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
     Health & Fitness Management
Nicole Bowman, Missouri, So., Virginia Beach, Va.
     Undeclared Business 
Tiffany Willin, Oklahoma, Jr., Fort Myers, Fla.

     General Management