• 2010 USAG Scholar-Athletes (pdf)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Six members of the Seattle Pacific University women's gymnastics team were honored as national Scholar-Athletes by USA Gymnastics.

To be nominated for the award, gymnasts must have been significant members of the rotation who achieved a 3.20 or higher cumulative grade point average. Freshmen were not eligible.

Heading the list of SPU's academic honorees was sophomore Kaysha Heck, a two-time medalist on the uneven bars. She was the national runner-up this season with a score of 9.650 after placing third in 2009.

A product of Woodinville's (Wash.) Chrysalis High School, Heck compiled a 3.70 grade point average while focusing on biology.

Sophomore Aditi Kulkarni boasted the team's top GPA at 3.99. The Lakewood, Colo. native is an accounting major.

Two Falcons juniors were honored for their academic success; Laura Willis (Temecula, Calif.) and Betsy Snook (Milwaukie, Ore.). Willis garnered All-America honors for her 10th place performance on the bars at the national championships. She is a business administration major with a 3.93 GPA.

Snook registered a 3.75 GPA while studying exercise science.

Rounding out the list of SPU scholar-athletes were sophomores Texie Gregory (Auburn, Calif.) and Samantha Taylor (San Carlos, Calif.). Gregory posted a 3.59 GPA in a business administration curriculum.

Taylor received second-team All-America recognition as an event finals alternate in both the vault and beam. She tied for 16th in the all-around competition. Taylor is a business administration major with a 3.45 GPA.

Seattle Pacific scored 187.925 team points to finish third in its semifinal session at the USAG Collegiate Championships on April 15 in Denton, Texas. The Falcons missed qualifying for the team finals by one place.

SPU is an NCAA Division II competitor that participated in the championship meet for the 28th time in the last 29 years. The Falcons have won three national titles, in 1986, 1992 and 1997.


2010 USA Gymnastics Scholar-Athletes (SPU selections)
Texie Gregory
So., 3.59, business administration (Auburn, Calif./Bear River)

Kaysha Heck
So., 3.70, biology (Edmonds, Wash./Chrysalis)

Aditi Kulkarni
So., 3.99, accounting (Lakewood, Colo./D'Evelyn)

Betsy Snook
Jr., 3.75, exercise science (Milwaukie, Ore./Putnam)

Samantha Taylor
So., 3.45, business administration (San Carlos, Calif./Carlmont)

Laura Willis
Jr., 3.93, business administration (Temecula, Calif./Linfield)