BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  The University of West Alabama placed four student-athletes on the Gulf South Conference’s 2009 Spring All-Academic Team, announced by the league office.  UWA recorded 24 selections to the conference’s 2009 Spring Academic Honor Roll.

Laura Bagwell and Aubree Hudson, members of the Tiger softball team, earned GSC All Academic Team honors for the second-straight year.  Douglas Frazier, an outfielder on the UWA baseball squad was selected to the All-Academic Team along with Tiger netter Mariana Freitas.  Bagwell sports a 3.73 grade point average in exercise science, while Hudson recently earned her undergraduate degree in pre-law with a 3.85 GPA.  Frazier maintains a 3.32 GPA in history, while Freitas has accumulated a 3.71 GPA in biology.

The Spring All-Academic Team is selected by the Gulf South Conference Sports Information Directors (SIDs) and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) in a joint vote. Nominated student-athletes must have an overall grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career and may not be freshmen or first-semester or quarter transfers. The student-athlete must be a significant contributor to the squad. Other factors include leadership, community service and extra-curricular activities.   

These four individuals not only excelled in the classroom, but also played an integral part in their respective sport this spring.  Bagwell and Hudson helped guide the UWA softball ballclub to a 42-17 overall mark – tying the school record for wins in a season.  The Tigers also reached the GSC Softball Tournament for the first time since 1997.  Frazier was a mainstay in the line up, as he helped UWA claim the 2009 GSC East Division Championship, a berth in the GSC Tournament and the NCAA South Regional.  Freitas, paced the women’s tennis squad to its second-consecutive GSC Tournament appearance this year.

To earn GSC Honor Roll status, student-athletes must achieve at least a 3.0 GPA.  The entire list of UWA members on the honor roll is listed below.

Name                Sport             GPA                Major                         Brent Bonner      Baseball          3.64               Physical Education

Clint Brown        Baseball          3.65               Math Education

Stephen Dennis  Baseball          3.25               Math Education

Douglas Frazier  Baseball           3.32               History

Marc Mahler      Baseball           3.88               Business Management

Kyle Moore        Baseball           3.37               Biology Comprehensive

Laura Bagwell    Softball            3.73               Exercise Science

Ashley Edgar      Softball           3.13               Elementary Education

Angela Hanna     Softball           3.44               Athletic Training

Aubree Hudson   Softball            3.85              Pre-Law

Brandi McGee     Softball            3.03              Exercise Science

Lauren Mills       Softball             3.36             Physical Education             

Mary Wright         Softball                 3.24                 Biology/Education

Mariana Freitas  Women’s Tennis  3.71              Biology

Victoria Jones    Women’s Tennis  4.00             Biology Comprehensive

Amanda Morgan Women’s Tennis  3.32              Business Administration

Cori Waters      Women’s Tennis   3.38              Athletic Training

Danish Ahmad   Men’s Tennis       3.59              Accounting

Lucas Cruz       Men’s Tennis       3.14              Business Administration

Benny Delgado Rochas   Men’s Tennis      3.00   Business Management

James Gardner  Men’s Tennis       3.41              Pre-Engineering

Austin Lindsey  Men’s Tennis       3.26               Pre-Engineering

Renat Shaykhelislamov  Men’s Tennis       4.00    Business Administration

Carlin Tighe       Men’s Tennis           3.28                   Pre-Med