Sporting News CT – SNCTTV

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – For the third consecutive year, Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics coach Jerry Nelson served as a volunteer coach at America’s Camp. The event ran from August 17-24 in Hinsdale, Mass. America’s Camp is a fun, high quality, one-week, sleep away camp for children who lost a parent or sibling as a result of the attacks on September 11 and for children or siblings of firefighters and law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty at any time.

More than 220 campers attended this year’s event. Nelson taught 12 gymnastics classes over four days and also assisted with the half-day Carnival.

lost in the line of duty at any time.

More than 220 campers attended this year’s event. Nelson taught 12 gymnastics classes over four days and also assisted with the half-day Carnival.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics coach Jerry Nelson has announced that seniors Justine Basley (Danielson, Conn.), Samantha Laraway (Watervliet, N.Y.) and junior Arianna Mallardi (Norwalk, Conn.) have been named team captains for the 2011 season.

Basley is coming off a season in which she collected All-America honors for the second straight year at the USAG Collegiate Nationals. She finished sixth on the bars at last year’s competition. Previously, Basley earned All-America honors on the beam as a sophomore. She is also a two-time ECAC champion on the bars and has also claimed ECAC individual titles in the All-Around and beam.

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Seven members of the Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics team – Alexa Banda (Brookeville, Md.), Sarah Darst (Tampa, Fla.), Briana DiPinto (Woburn, Mass.), Sarah Holensworth (Warminster, Pa.), Jessica Kiback (Newington, Conn.), Samantha Laraway (Watervliet, N.Y.) and Robin Underwood (Chelmsford, Mass.) – have been named 2010 USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-America Scholar Athletes. Student-athletes must have a either a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 or a current academic year GPA of at least 3.5 in order to qualify for the honor.

As a team, the Owls posted a higher grade point average than notable schools such as Auburn, Arizona, Brigham Young, California, George Washington, Louisiana State, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Washington.

On the individual front, it’s the third straight such recognition by the NACGC/W for Darst and Underwood.

In addition, Darst previously earned First-Team Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and was selected as the ECAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the third year in a row based on her efforts in the classroom.