Aug. 22, 2001

Eight University of Kentucky gymnasts were named Academic All-Americans by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women, matching the largest All-America class in the history of the UK program. This is the second consecutive year that more than half the team has made the list for earning at least a 3.5 grade-point average during the 2000-01 academic year, including three who earned a perfect 4.0.

Karla Adelt, Nicole Allen, Stacey Hackett, Jessie Lemp, Mindy Smith, Stephanee Stone, Katie Toups and Melissa Tucker were each honored for their outstanding academic accomplishments. It is the third consecutive year that Lemp and Toups have been honored, while Adelt, Allen, Smith and Stone have earned their second award.

“This is one of the most incredible things for our program,” Coach Leah Little said. “To have over half of our team named Academic All-American for the second consecutive year is phenomenal. I’m proud to see that the team is getting it done in the classroom and in the gym. It brings truth to the title `student-athlete.'”

This year’s honorees bring to 39 the total number of GymKats who have been named to the list since 1989.