April 24, 2006

BERKELEY - Nine members of the California men's gymnastics team have been selected as Academic All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's scholar athletes for the 2006 season, MPSF executive director Al Beaird announced Monday. Receiving honors are senior co-captains Chirs Rodriguez (political science major) and Shawn Mowry (political science), junior Caleb Kirk (integrated biology) and sophomores Tyler Block, Kyle Brady, Colin Christ, Kyle Litow (biochemistry and molecular biology), Tim McNeill and Aaron Moy (interdisciplinary studies).

"We are thrilled that such a great percentage of our team has such a fine academic background," said head coach Barry Weiner. "It's great that our student-athletes are so serious about their academic performances."

The student-athletes were nominated for this award by their institution based on the following criteria: 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average and at least a sophomore academically, the student-athlete must have completed one full academic year at the institution prior to the season for which the award is being received and the student-athlete must have competed in 50 percent or more of the institution's competition.

Cal finished the 2006 season with a 13-15 overall record, placing third at the MPSF Championships and taking fifth at the NCAA team competition.