Feb. 19, 2007

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri juniors Tim Kephart and Katie Kluga were named this week's Lathrop & Gage Varsity M Student-Athletes of the Week for their exceptional contributions to their respective athletic teams, combined with their strengths in the classroom and time spent in the local community.

A native of O'Fallon, Mo., Kepart is a general studies major and holds a 3.08 grade-point average. Wrestling at 125 pounds for No. 3, Kephart posted a 15-7 mark in 2006 with a 2-2 record Big 12 Conference competition. He has seen Off the mat, Kephart assisted the Shephard Elementary School PTA with fundraisers.

Kluga, a member of the No. 17 Tiger gymnastics team, holds a 3.31 grade-point average in nursing. The Downers Grove, Ill., native is a fixture in the bars and beam lineups for the Tigers. This season, she scored a career-high 9.800 on beam at the Cancun Classic on Jan. 5. Outside of the gym, Kluga was named a Academic All-Big 12 first team honoree and a National Association of Gymnastics Coaches / Women Scholar Athlete in 2006. In the community, Kluga helped coordinated the gymnastics squad's Adopt-A-Family project and volunteered at The Shelter's Half-Marathon.

Kluga and her Mizzou teammates host the 27th Annual The Callaway Bank Cat Classic on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24 at 7 p.m. The Tigers will face Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and William and Mary in the team competition on Friday while the individual event finals will take place on Saturday. Kephart and the No. 3 wrestlers host the Big 12 Championships on Saturday, March 3 at the Hearnes Center. First round matches will start at 11 a.m., consolation matches are at 4 p.m. and the championship bouts are at 7 p.m.