For Immediate Release: Tuesday, 28 October 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

UTPA STUDENT-ATHLETES REAP NUMEROUS ACADEMIC HONORS

EDINBURG, TX-For the eighth consecutive semester, student-athletes at The University of Texas-Pan American turned in a strong academic performance.

In the spring semester of 2003, Texas-Pan American's student-athletes posted a departmental cumulative grade point average of 2.92. The spring GPA represented an increase from the 2.90 GPA that Bronc and Lady Bronc student-athletes posted during the fall semester of 2002. The department's overall GPA of 2.92 was higher than the overall spring 2003 undergraduate GPA of 2.62 as reported by UTPA's Office of Admissions & Records.

Sixty-nine Texas-Pan American's student-athletes, or 51 per cent, earned a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher during the most spring semester of 2003. Fifty-seven UTPA student-athletes, or 41 per cent, earned a GPA of 3.2 or better, while 31 student-athletes, or 23 per cent, earned a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher while also earning Dean's List Second Honors. Ten student-athletes earned a perfect 4.00 GPA, with six of those 10 earning Dean's List First Honors.

The spring 2003 edition of the Athletics Department's Bronc Pride 3.0 Club, the largest since the club's introduction during the Fall 2000 semester, has 69 new members representing all 14 NCAA Division I programs. The Bronc Pride 3.0 Club honors student-athletes who earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the spring semester.

Texas-Pan American's women's tennis team earned the highest semester team GPA during the spring at 3.56. The Lady Bronc tennis team also recorded the highest cumulative team GPA for the spring semester, at 3.49. Among UTPA's men's teams, the Broncs posted the highest semester team GPA of 3.05, while also maintaining the top cumulative team GPA at 2.98.

Last spring, a record nine student-athletes from UTPA were recognized as 2003 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sport Scholars. The United States Achievement Academy also recognized 22 Bronc student-athletes, representing 10 of the 14 NCAA Division I programs, as 2003 All-American Sport Scholars.

Senior Kevin Mitchell (Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC) of the men's basketball team was one of only five student-athletes named to the Verizon Academic All-District VI team and was one of only 40 student-athletes honored nationwide. Mitchell was also named to the inaugural NCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Director's Association Scholar-Athlete team, while senior James Davis (Oklahoma City, OK/Casady HS/Westark College) received honorable mention for the same team.

The women's tennis team and eight members of the Broncs and Lady Broncs received academic honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
Texas-Pan American's women's team was named an ITA All-Academic Team for the third year in a row. The Lady Broncs were one of 72 teams nationally to earn this honor.

Five members of the UTPA women's tennis team were named ITA Scholar-Athletes. Senior Elisabet Mateos (Barcelona, Spain/Arnau Cadell HS/Laredo CC); juniors Jessica Brown (Sioux City, IA/North HS), Julie Fife (Los Alamos, NM/Los Alamos HS) and Alana Breen (Whistler, BC/Whistler Secondary); and sophomore Kathryn Waslen (Calgary, AB/West Island College) were honored. The five were among 302 chosen from among all Division I women's tennis players.

Three members of the men's team also were recognized. They were senior Neil Barraclough (Coventry, England/Cardinal Newman HS/Seward County CC) and sophomores Filip Koziell (Calgary, AB/Bishop Carroll HS) and Jeremy Salvo (Coquitlam, BC/Centennial Secondary). They were among 200 selected from all Division I men's tennis players. Koziell was also named to the Southland Conference men's tennis All-Academic team.

"At The University of Texas-Pan American, our athletic program continues to demonstrate that the academic achievement of our student-athletes remains a top priority," said UTPA Director of Athletics William J. Weidner. "Chris Uchacz, our assistant athletic director for academic support and student services, is to be commended for the outstanding leadership he has provided in overseeing our student-athlete academic support system. In addition, the members of our coaching staff are to be acknowledged for their efforts in regards to supporting the mission of the department as it relates to our student-athletes' academic achievement. Finally, we congratulate each of our student-athletes, who have clearly demonstrated through their hard work and dedication that excellence can be achieved in both the academic athletic arena."

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