While spending much of the season on the sidelines due to injury, Ute All-American gymnast Theresa Kulikowski did not lose focus out of the gym. This week she was named, for the second consecutive year, the Verizon Academic All-American of the Year and to the Academic All-America first team.

“That is an example of someone who distinguished herself on the gymnastics floor, and equally off the floor,” U gymnastics coach Greg Marsden said.

Kulio was a 14-time NCAA All-American and three-time NCAA champion.

This season, various injuries hindered her senior year, yet she competed well enough to be named to the All-America first team on the balance beam and uneven bars.

She was not the only member of the team to enjoy success in the classroom.

“The team had a GPA over 3.64 and 10 of the 12 girls were scholastic All-Americans, which means you have a 3.5 or above,” Marsden said.

Marsden has put special emphasis put on the way the team competes in the classroom.

“It’s always been important to be as competitive in the classroom as it is on the floor,” Marsden said. “We take as much pride in honors we receive with academic success.”

Asad Kudiya