LEXINGTON, Ky. ?The University of Kentucky gymnastics team far surpassed the coaching staff?s expectations of the team academic goal that was set at the beginning of the season.

The goal of earning a team cumulative grade point average of 3.3 was annihilated, as the gymnasts finished the 2004-2005 academic year with an astonishing 3.39 team GPA.

?The team did phenomenal in the classroom as a group,? UK head coach Mo Muhammad said. ?The coaching staff is very proud of the team?s accomplishments in the classroom. Combining the effort in the classroom with their talent on the floor, the UK gymnastics squad is a very accomplished group of women.?

Of the team?s 16 gymnasts on the roster, 13 earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher, while seven of those finished above a 3.5. Two gymnasts garnered 4.0 GPAs, including Krista Prestigiacomo, who graduated with honors last weekend at Rupp Arena, and junior Bethany Strauch.

During the first semester, the Wildcats fell just short of the 3.3 goal, earning a GPA of 3.28.