Sporting News CT – SNCTTV

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.