LIVINGSTON, Ala. - Five University of West Alabama student-athletes were selected to the
Gulf South Conference Spring 2008 All-Academic Team in their
respective sport. Laura Bagwell and Aubree Hudson earned honors on
the GSC Academic Softball squad while Denton
Meintjes and
Rachel Hardaway of the UWA tennis programs were named to the tennis academic
teams. Brent Bumgarner represented the UWA baseball program.
The Spring All-Academic Team is
selected by the Gulf South Conference Sports Information Directors (SIDs)
and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) in a joint vote. Nominated
student-athletes 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.
UWA placed 16 student-athletes on the
league’s 2008 Spring Academic Honor Roll. The Red and White placed six
individuals each from the baseball and softball teams. Qualification for
honor roll status is a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and at least sophomore status on
the playing field.
With the 16 honorees on the GSC Spring
Academic Honor Roll, UWA placed 51 total student-athletes combined on all
three GSC Honor Rolls (Fall, Winter, Spring).
Bagwell, a junior from Ragland, Ala.,
played in all 58 games this season and sported a .296 average at the dish.
She recorded 16 extra base hits, including six home runs and eight doubles.
Bagwell led the Tigers in walks with 31 on the season. In the
classroom, she holds a 3.90 grade point average in the exercise science
curriculum at UWA. Hudson finished her junior season with a 4-3 record
in the circle, totaling 65.1 innings pitched and striking out 48 on the
season. She maintains a 3.74 GPA in pre-law studies at UWA.
Meintjes led the Tiger netters on the men’s side with nine wins in
singles and 12 wins in doubles this season. Meintjes is on track to earn
his degree in business administration with a 3.61 GPA. Hardaway, co-captain
of the UWA women, had ten wins in singles matches this season along with
maintaining a 3.29 GPA in biology. Both senior netters led their squads to
a trip to the GSC Championship, a program-first for the UWA women.
Bumgarner, a four-year letterman for the
UWA Baseball team, made 99 starts in his career, including 33 during the
2008 season. He posted a 1.000 fielding percentage this season, the second
perfect fielding percentage season for the Tiger. The Kennesaw, Ga.-native
posted a cumulative 3.24 GPA in Pre-Engineering, while receiving honors in
Blue Key, Omicron Delta Kappa, Who’s Who, 2007 Spring Dean’s List.
UWA 2008 Spring Academic Honor Roll Members
Brent Bumgarner
SR
Pre-Engineering
3.24
Clint Brown
SO
Mathematics
3.69
Phillip Merryman
SO
Biology-Comprehension 3.55
Todd Rea
SR
Chemistry
3.11
Jonathan Sherrill
SO
Biology-Comprehension 3.60
Cole Thornton
SR
Dentistry
3.00
Laura Bagwell
JR
Exercise Science
3.80
Aubree Hudson
JR
Pre-Law
3.73
Jennifer Lauth
JR
Sociology
3.00
Brittany McGee
JR
Accounting
3.00
Krista Merrifield
SR
Elementary Education 3.00
Mary Wright
SO
Biology/Education
3.43
Denton Meintjes
SR
Business Administration 3.61
Carlin Tighe
JR
Pre-Med
3.20
Rachel Hardaway SR
Biology
3.28
Amanda Morgan
SO
Business Administration 3.30
