Seawolf gymnasts tie mark with 10 all-academic honorees

The UAA gymnastics team tied a program record Wednesday as the Seawolves produced 10 honorees on the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Academic Team, led by a 4.00 grade-point average from sophomore Verena Wong.

This marked the fourth time the Seawolves have registered double figures on the academic team since joining the league in 2003, along with the 2010, 2023 and 2024 squads.

An accounting and management double-major from Aiea, Hawaii, Wong was joined with plus-3.85 GPAs by junior Claudia Lessig (3.96, accounting, Spring, Texas), sophomore Maribelle Albert (3.93, natural sciences and psychology, Wyalusing, Pennslyvania), sophomore Maria Jose Prieto (3.92, communication and journalism & public communications, Morelos, Mexico) and senior Ariana DeSouza (3.85, aviation technology, Fairfield, California).

Seniors Madelyn Gomez (3.70, kinesiology, Dixon, California), Jada Niles (3.67, psychology, Mississauga, Ontario) and Breeann Spain (3.64, kinesiology, Keaau, Hawaii) joined DeSouza as three-time all-academic honorees, while junior Jamilia Duffus (3.78, aviation technology, Kingston, Jamaica) and sophomore Jordan Grindol (3.45, management, Sulphur, Louisiana) made the team in their first year of eligibility.

To be eligible for the MPSF All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must carry a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA, be in at least her second academic year at an MPSF institution, and compete in at least 50 percent of meets.