Temple University Athletics
Eight Gymnasts Earn Academic Honors Following 2014-15 Season
8.11.15 | Women's Gymnastics
PHILADELPHIA – Eight Temple women's gymnasts have been named National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC) Scholastic All-Americans following the 2015 season. The NACGC honors these gymnasts for earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the spring semester.
Senior Michaela Lapent and junior Briana Odom are the only two returning gymnasts to earn the honor. Lapent, an adult and organizational development major, posted a 3.5 GPA in her last semester. In the 2015 season, Lapent saw her first individual event title on bars against Ursinus with a 9.75, as well as action on all four events throughout the season. Odom, a sophomore psychology major, earned a 3.55 GPA in her spring semester. Odom worked as a strong all-around gymnast in her first two seasons, earning USAG first-team All American status with her career-high 38.475 all-around score in 2014.
Graduate student Brittanie DeMeno tallied the highest GPA of the group with a 4.0 in special education. DeMeno was previously named to the Philadelpha Inquirer Academic All-Area team in 2014 after playing a key role as an all-around gymnast during a record-breaking season for the Owls that year. As a four-year letterwinner, DeMeno was the MVP of the 2013 season and contributed on all four events throughout her time as an Owl.
Lauren Capone, a strategic communications major, tallied a 3.84 GPA in her last semester with the Owls. Her classroom efforts also earned her a spot on the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team in both 2014 and 2015. As another four-year letterwinner, Capone ended her career with four conference medals and USAG first-team All-American honors on the vault.
Risk management major Alexandra Forcucci finished her last semester with a 3.79 GPA. Forcucci was a floor exercise specialist in her senior season, ending her career with a 9.683 average on the event and a 100 percent hit rate.
Fellow graduates Alexis Arena and Taylor Rakus both posted a 3.73 GPA in their final semesters to earn the honor. Arena, an advertising major, garnered four individual beam titles during her senior season, ranking sixth in the conference based on her RQS of 9.745. Rakus, a kinesiology major, was a three-year letter winner, qualifying to USAG Nationals as an individualist on beam in 2013 and earning career-highs of 9.65 and 9.75 on bars and beam, respectively.
The final graduate to earn Academic All-American honors is kinesiology major Stephanie Verry who posted a 3.51 GPA in her final semester. As a three-year letterwinner, Verry was a USAG Nationals qualifier on both floor and vault and ended the 2013 season with 100 percent hit rates on both vault and floor.
Senior Michaela Lapent and junior Briana Odom are the only two returning gymnasts to earn the honor. Lapent, an adult and organizational development major, posted a 3.5 GPA in her last semester. In the 2015 season, Lapent saw her first individual event title on bars against Ursinus with a 9.75, as well as action on all four events throughout the season. Odom, a sophomore psychology major, earned a 3.55 GPA in her spring semester. Odom worked as a strong all-around gymnast in her first two seasons, earning USAG first-team All American status with her career-high 38.475 all-around score in 2014.
Graduate student Brittanie DeMeno tallied the highest GPA of the group with a 4.0 in special education. DeMeno was previously named to the Philadelpha Inquirer Academic All-Area team in 2014 after playing a key role as an all-around gymnast during a record-breaking season for the Owls that year. As a four-year letterwinner, DeMeno was the MVP of the 2013 season and contributed on all four events throughout her time as an Owl.
Lauren Capone, a strategic communications major, tallied a 3.84 GPA in her last semester with the Owls. Her classroom efforts also earned her a spot on the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team in both 2014 and 2015. As another four-year letterwinner, Capone ended her career with four conference medals and USAG first-team All-American honors on the vault.
Risk management major Alexandra Forcucci finished her last semester with a 3.79 GPA. Forcucci was a floor exercise specialist in her senior season, ending her career with a 9.683 average on the event and a 100 percent hit rate.
Fellow graduates Alexis Arena and Taylor Rakus both posted a 3.73 GPA in their final semesters to earn the honor. Arena, an advertising major, garnered four individual beam titles during her senior season, ranking sixth in the conference based on her RQS of 9.745. Rakus, a kinesiology major, was a three-year letter winner, qualifying to USAG Nationals as an individualist on beam in 2013 and earning career-highs of 9.65 and 9.75 on bars and beam, respectively.
The final graduate to earn Academic All-American honors is kinesiology major Stephanie Verry who posted a 3.51 GPA in her final semester. As a three-year letterwinner, Verry was a USAG Nationals qualifier on both floor and vault and ended the 2013 season with 100 percent hit rates on both vault and floor.
Players Mentioned
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
BB, FX
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
BB, UB
/ Women's Gymnastics
V, BB, FX
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