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Nanook student-athletes earn 3.21 cumulative GPA

Student athletes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks achieved the highest cumulative grade point average ever by the athletic department during the 2007-08 academic year, according to a press release issued Wednesday.

Athletic director Forrest Karr announced the participants in the 10 varsity sports offered by the university posted a GPA of 3.21

Last fall, the Nanooks had a 3.16 GPA and averaged 13.27 credit hours. The Nanooks improved to a 3.27 GPA in the spring for 13.04 credit hours.

Statistics show that the Nanooks have improved from fall to spring in each of the last three academic years.

“Our coaches have done a great job of keeping student-athletes focused on academics through the entire spring semester,” Karr said in the press release. “The last three years have truly been exceptional. I keep wondering if they can possibly do better, and they continue to impress.”

The Nanooks had 37 athletes earn academic honors in their respective conferences.

The volleyball team had a conference-high seven players named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic team, and the women’s swim team earned academic All-American honors for the second straight year.

Alaska skiers Marius Korthauer and Vahur Teppan achieved program firsts, as they were selected to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large first and second teams, respectively.

About 65 percent (76 of 112) of the Nanooks maintained a 3.0 GPA through both semesters and 19 recorded 4.0 GPAs during the year.

Those posting 4.0 GPAs in at least one semester were during the year Chris Eversman (cross country), Elisabeth Habermann (cross country and skiing), Jennifer Holland (volleyball), Trevor Hyatt (hockey), Jenna Jones (volleyball), Brandon Knelsen (hockey), Dion Knelsen (hockey), Erik Largen (hockey), Grace Milliken (women’s basketball), Bryant Molle (hockey), Dustin Molle (hockey), Ryan Muspratt (hockey), Alex Morris (cross country), Christofer Olofsson (rifle), Jordan Pernarowski (hockey), Andreas Schnitzer (cross country and skiing), Vahur Teppan (cross country), Charles Whitmer (rifle) and Beth Zirbes (cross country).

Hole-in-one

Doyon president Norman Phillips recorded the first hole-in-one of the season at the North Star Golf Club last Saturday.

Phillips, a member at the North Star Golf Club, used a 5-iron to ace the par 3, 172-yard sixth hole.

Track results

Complete results of last Saturday’s Alyeska Track and Field Games will be published in Sunday’s Daily News-Miner.

Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.