FOUR TECH STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED TO GSC ALL-ACADEMIC BASKETBALL TEAMS; 10 NAMED TO ALL-ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL

       RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech University placed three Golden Suns (senior forward Daiane Domingos, sophomore guard Brittany Gottsponer and sophomore guard Ashley Grappe) and one Wonder Boy (sophomore guard Brandon Friedel) on the Gulf South Conference Winter Sports All-Academic Team that were released by the league office on Tuesday. In addition, 10 Tech basketball players, including seven Golden Suns, were named to the GSC’s Winter Sports Academic Honor Roll.

The GSC Winter Sports All-Academic team consists of 23 total student-athletes from men’s and women’s basketball among the conference’s 15 member institutions. Meanwhile, a total of 121 men’s and women’s basketball players with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 qualified for the All-Academic Honor Roll.

Academic All-GSC teams are selected by the GSC Sports Information Directors and Faculty Athletic Representatives in a joint vote. The nominees must have an overall grade point average of 3.20 or better for their entire academic career and may not be freshmen or first-semester or quarter transfers. The student-athlete needed to be a significant contributor to the team. Other factors included leadership, community service and extra-curricular activities. The SIDs and FARs were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.

“I am really proud that three of women’s basketball players were named to the All-Academic team,” Golden Suns Head Basketball Coach Dave Wilbers said. “All three of these young ladies are outstanding, not only on the court, but also in the classroom. They are the true definition of a student-athlete.”

Domingos, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, carries a 3.30 cumulative grade point average in public relations. As a senior this past season, Domingos played in all 32 games and made eight starts. She averaged 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and shot 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from the 3-point line and had 10 double-digit scoring efforts and recorded a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds against Texas A&M-Commerce. In Tech’s five postseason games, she averaged 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and shot 56 percent from the field and 50 percent from long distance. Domingos helped Tech finish with a 26-6 overall record, a 12-2 mark in the GSC West Division and advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Regional.    

Gottsponer, a native of Morrilton, Ark., carries a 3.67 cumulative grade point average in pre-med/biology. This past season, Gottsponer played in all 32 of Tech’s games and made 27 starts and helped lead Tech to a 26-6 overall record, a 12-2 mark in the GSC West Division and advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Regional. On the season, she averaged 6.3 points, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game and shot 44 percent from the floor, 37 percent from long distance and 83 percent from the free throw line. In addition, she had eight double digit scoring games and had eight games with four or more assists. In GSC play, Gottsponer averaged 7.1 points and 1.6 assists per game.

Grappe, a native of Benton, Ark., carries a 3.20 cumulative grade point average in health and physical education. This past season, Grappe, who missed the final six games due to a season-ending injury, played in 25 games and made 24 starts and helped lead Tech to a 26-6 overall record, a 12-2 mark in the GSC West Division and advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Regional. On the season, Grappe averaged 9.3 points, a GSC-best 5.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game and shot 50 percent from the floor and 78 percent at the free throw line. In addition, Grappe scored in double figures in 10 games and had two 13 assists games and finished the season ranked in the Top 20 in NCAA Division II in assist/turnover margin at 1.7.

Joining Domingos, Gottsponer and Grappe on the West Division All-Academic Women’s Basketball squad are Arkansas-Monticello’s Tasha Owens (3.43 GPA), Harding’s Catherine McMenamy (3.77 GPA) and Southern Arkansas’ Goldie White (3.32 GPA).

Meanwhile, Friedel, a native of Victoria, Texas, was named to the West Division All-Academic Men’s team after playing in all 29 of Tech’s games and making 19 starts in helping Tech to an 18-11 record, its best record since going 16-11 during the 1999-00 season. In addition, Tech qualified for the GSC Tournament for the first time since the 1999-00 season and also won its first-ever postseason game at the NCAA Division II level, a 65-49 decision over Alabama-Huntsville in the first round of the GSC Tournament. On the season, Friedel, an undeclared major who carries a 3.80 cumulative grade point average, averaged 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and shot 35 percent from the field, 35 percent from the 3-point line and 81 percent at the free throw line.

“What a tremendous honor for Brandon and our basketball program,” Wonder Boys Head Coach Mark Downey said. “Brandon is an excellent student-athlete, both on the court and in the classroom.”

Joining Friedel on the GSC West Division All-Academic team is Christian Brothers tandem of Kyle Couvion (3.37 GPA) and Colin Flynn (3.65 GPA), along with Harding’s threesome of Philip Groves (3.53 GPA), Matt Hall (3.67 GPA) and Kellen Morgan (3.85 GPA).    

In addition to the Academic All-Conference team selections, Domingos, Friedel, Gottsponer and Grappe were joined on the GSC Academic Honor Roll by sophomore guard John Clark (Men’s Basketball – 3.20, management & marketing), sophomore guard Dexter Hendrix (Men’s Basketball – 3.10 GPA, undecided), sophomore guard Julie Smith (Women’s Basketball – 4.00 GPA, undecided), freshman guard Jamie Sterrenberg (Women’s Basketball – 4.00 GPA, mechanical engineering), freshman guard Courtney Sublett (Women’s Basketball – 3.10 GPA, undecided) and senior center Ruby Vaden (Women’s Basketball – 3.40, speech communications).      

West Florida led the Academic Honor Roll with a league-high 14 student-athletes, while Tech, Alabama-Huntsville and Delta State followed with 10 student-athletes apiece. In order to qualify for the honor roll, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.00 or higher and must have played during the 2007-08 season.

           2007-08 GSC Winter All-Academic Team and All-Academic Honor Roll  

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