April 5, 2012

BERKELEY - Eight members of the California women's gymnastics team earned All-Academic honors by the Pac-12 Conference, Commissioner Larry Scott announced on Thursday.

Sophomore Alicia Asturias was a First Team Pac-12 All-Academic selection, while senior Alexandra Leggitt, junior Arla Rosenzeig and sophomore Lina Nilsson were Second Team All-Academic honorees. Juniors Chelsea Spomer, Stina Olivere and Carol Chang and sophomore Dallas Crawford were honorable mention selections.

"I am incredibly proud of all eight of our student-athletes that were honored," said women's gymnastics head coach Danna Durante. "They truly represent what it means to be a student-athlete here at the University of California."

The eight Golden Bears honored were the most for program since 2007, when Cal was also represented with eight gymnasts on the all-academic teams.

To be eligible for selection to the Pac-12 Conference's All-Academic squads, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average and be either a starter or significant contributor.

Leggitt was recognized for the third consecutive year after earning honorable mention laurels each of the past two seasons. She owns a 3.39 cumulative grade point average, majoring in Anthropology. The senior competed in every meet on the beam and was also a regular in the Bears' lineup in the floor exercise this season.

Asturias, who owns a 3.87 grade point average, is one of 12 gymnasts on the league's first team and one of just four sophomores among the group. She competed in every meet this season on the bars and floor exercise and also saw action on the beam.

Nilsson, who competed in every meet for the Bears in the floor exercise this season, has recorded a 3.63 grade point average.

Rosenzweig owns a 3.41 grade point average as a Cognitive Science major. She was part of Cal's regular lineup on the vault, competing in the event in every meet this season.

Chang was a regular contributor on the bars and beam, majoring in Integrative Biology. Crawford, who has not yet declared a major, competed for the Bears in every meet on the vault and bars. Olivere, who is majoring in Media Studies, competed in every meet on the bars, while also seeing action on the vault and in the floor exercise. Spomer, a regular for the Bears on the vault and in the floor exercise, is majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Cal will close its 2012 season in Seattle this Saturday, April 7, as juniors Madisyn O'Brien and Mariesah Pierce will compete in the all-around and junior Nicollete Lew will perform on the balance beam at the NCAA Regionals inside Alaska Airlines Arena at 4 p.m.