May 17, 2006

Nine Missouri baseball players have been named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. Mizzou's nine selections are the most by any team in the Big 12 and is an all-time high at Missouri. Seven Tigers earned first team honors, while two more were named to the second team.

Earning first team recognition were seniors Travis Wendte and Trevor Helms, juniors Nathan Culp and Max Scherzer, sophomores Jacob Priday and Dan Pietroburgo and redshirt freshman Brant Combs. Senior Nick Admire and junior John McKee were second team selections.

The selection for Wendte is the third of his career. Helms, Culp, Scherzer and McKee earned their second Academic All-Conference selection.

Previously the most Tigers named to the Academic All-Big 12 team were eight selections last year.

The Big 12 Conference has named 45 student-athletes to the 2006 Academic All-Big 12 Baseball Team.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the academic all-league baseball squad consisted of 33 first team members combined with 12 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. All players nominated must have participated in 60 percent of their team's scheduled contests, while pitchers are required to have at least one inning pitched per game played by the team or have appeared in 20 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 are also eligible.