March 23, 2010

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri has been recognized by the Big 12 Conference for the accomplishments of six gymnasts outside the gym and in the classroom. Five Tigers have been named to the 2010 Academic All-Big 12 first team and one to the second team.

Seniors Brooke Boehmer (Overland Park, Kan.) and Becky Scholle (Chesterfield, Mo.), junior Alex Gold (Plano, Texas) and sophomores Mary Burke (Inverness, Ill.) and Allie Heizelman (Cypress, Texas) all received first team honors, while senior All-American Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) was named to the second team.

This is third time in as many years that Boehmer and Scholle have been a first team selection and have earned the honor all three years eligible. Gold earned second team honors last year and her hard work in the classroom paid off as she improved to first team honors this year. This was the first year Burke and Heizelman have been eligible for selections and are setting the pace for the team's academic future. The selection also marked the first for Shire. Heizelman leads the team with a 3.75 GPA.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the gymnastics academic all-league squad consisted of 24 first team members combined with eight 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.

Click here for the full list of the 2010 Academic All-Big 12 Team.