Temple University Athletics
Jason Russo of the Men's Gymnastics Team Named the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men's At-Large Performer of the Year; Men's and Women's Gymnastics Teams Also Honored
5.5.09 | Women's Gymnastics
May 5, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - Senior Jason Russo of the Temple men's gymnastics team was the named the 2008-09 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men's At-Large Performer of the Year - highlighting several recent exceptional academic achievements by both the men's and women's gymnastics teams.
Russo, a civil engineering major with a 3.75 cumulative grade point average, is a three-time Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team selection. He is also a three-time All-American Scholar Athlete and was once named a National Collegiate Scholar.
Along with Russo, teammate John Vogtman was also selected as a member of the 10-member Academic All-Area team. This is also the third-consecutive selection to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team for Vogtman.
On the women's side, two members of the Temple women's gymnastics team - senior Natasha Crawford and junior Danielle Viens - were named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women's At-Large Teams.
Crawford, a public relations major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.66, was one of the Owls' top performer on all-around, balance beam and vault.
Viens, a kinesiology major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.63, was one of the Owls' top performers on uneven bars.
Along with the individual honors, the men's and women's gymnastics teams were also recently honored for their work in the classroom and around campus at the university's seventh annual Breakfast of Champions.
The men's gymnastics team won "The Owl" for the top Team GPA Award with an aggregate grade point average of 3.25.
The women's gymnastics team captured the first ever Owl Cup, given to the team that has best exemplified the initiatives set forth by the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program: student-athletes supporting other student-athletes, excelling in and out of the classroom, attending CHAMPS/Life Skill workshops, volunteerism, and the promotion of a healthy and competitive campus environment.
