Twenty-nine Montevallo Student-Athletes Named to GSC Spring Academic Honor Roll

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Montevallo athletic department was third among East Division Gulf South Conference schools with 29 student-athletes named to the Gulf South Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll. Three individuals were named to their respective All-Academic Teams for the 2008-09 year. The Falcons trailed just the University of West Florida (41) and Valdosta State University (31) who each field softball and men's tennis teams which adds to their total number.

Without softball and men's tennis counted the Falcons hold the lead over the other GSC East schools with 29 compared to 23 from West Florida and 18 from the Valdosta State.

UM was led by baseball that had 16 student-athletes named to the honor roll followed by men's golf with 6, women's golf with 4 and women's tennis with three.

Senior baseball catcher Ryan Norman (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) was selected to the GSC Baseball East Division All-Academic Team. This was his second selection to the squad following a similar honor in 2007. He is a senior biology major with a 3.25 GPA. He also earned first team All-Conference recognition this past season and second team All-South Region.

Junior golfer Tripp Cash (Troy, Ala.) was selected to the Men's Golf GSC All-Academic squad after posting a 3.85 GPA in accounting. This was his first All-Academic selection. He led the team in the GSC Championship with a 14^th place finish this past season.

Sophomore golfer Emily Gibson (Toronto, Ontario) was named to the Women's Golf GSC All-Academic squad following a First Team All-Conference selection this season. She carries a 3.42 GPA in Social Sciences and was the only sophomore golfer selected on the women's team.

Academic All-GSC Teams are selected by the Gulf South Conference Sports Information Directors (SIDs) and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) in a joint vote. Nominees must have an overall grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career and may not be freshmen or first-semester or quarter transfers. The student-athlete must be a significant contributor to the squad. Other factors include leadership, community service and extra-curricular activities. SIDs and FARs are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. The number of student-athletes selected in each sport is determined by the number of positions normally involved in the playing of that sport. Ties are not broken.

To be named to the GSC Honor Roll a student-athlete must have a GPA of 3.00 or above. The athlete must have participated in one regular season contest to be named to the honor roll as well.