Feb. 26, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Twelve members of the 21st-ranked Tiger men's swimming and diving team were honored to the 2008 Academic All-Big 12 Team, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. The announcement comes one day before the team begins competing in the Big 12 Championships, Wednesday through Saturday, in Austin.
Those Tigers named to the all-league first team include seniors Thomas Baumann and Joe Wilson, juniors Ted Harris, Jake Hoffmann, Brad Hubbard and Gilad Kaufman, and sophomores Matt Burns, Martin Cernansky, Greg DeStephen and Joe Wiedemeier. Earning a spot on the second team were juniors Byron Carlisle and Eric Smith.
Hubbard was just one of two Big 12 student-athletes to earn a 4.0 GPA in each of the past two semesters. Overall, the Tiger men and women's squads had 28 student-athletes named to the conference team, the most during Hoffer's 16-year tenure at Missouri.
Members of the annual all-league teams are nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and media relations offices. This year, the men's squad consisted of 30 first-team and six second-team members. On the women's side there were 61 first-team recipients and 15 selected to the second team. First-team members include those who have maintained a 3.20 or higher GPA, while the second team consists of those maintaining a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
In order to qualify, student-athletes are required to maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulatively or over the two previous semesters. In addition, they must have participated in 60 percent of his or 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.
Mizzou's Academic All-Big 12 Selections
First Team:
Thomas Baumann / Sr. / Art / South Elgin, Ill.
Matt Burns / So. / Math / Blue Springs, Mo.
Martin Cernansky / So. / International Studies / Maria, Enzersdorf, Austria
Greg DeStephen / So. / Business / Columbus, Ohio
Ted Harris / Jr. / Fisheries and Wildlife / Greenville, Ill.
Jake Hoffmann / Jr. / Biology / Sugar Land, Texas
Brad Hubbard / Jr. / Business / Louisville, Ky.
Gilad Kaufman / Jr. / Chemical Engineering / Netania, Israel
Joe Wiedemeier / So. / Forestry / Ames, Iowa
Joe Wilson / Sr. / English / St. Louis, Mo.
Second Team:
Byron Carlisle / Jr. / Nursing / Frisco, Texas
Eric Smith / Jr. / Economics / St. Peters, Mo.