April 10, 2006

LOGAN, Utah - Fifteen Utah State student-athletes were on the list of winter academic all-Western Athletic Conference selections that were announced by the league office. Among the honorees were seven USU women's basketball players, six Aggie gymnasts and two men's basketball players.

Three gymnasts, Liesel Kohler, Rachael Mandy, and Jessica Parenti, each earned league academic honors for the fourth straight year.

Kohler, a senior from La Selva Beach, Calif., competed on the beam and floor this past season after winning the WGC floor title last year. Mandy, a junior from Fargo, N.D., tied for ninth on the vault at this year's league championship. Parenti, a junior from Glendora, Calif. qualified for the NCAA Regionals as an individual and finished 14th in the all-around.

Women's basketball selections included three-time choices Jessica Freeman and Brittany Tressler. Freeman, a senior from St. George, Utah finished her career as USU's all-time blocked shots leader. Tressler, a junior from Orem, Utah, averaged 3.7 points per game this past season.

Chris Huber and Cass Matheus earned honors from the men's basketball team. Matheus, a senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, averaged 9.1 points and 6.0 rebounds while starting all 32 games. Huber, a senior from Garland, Utah, was a key reserve and averaged nearly three points per contest, while handing out 75 assists and committing just 33 turnovers.

To be eligible for the teams, a student-athlete must have completed at least one academic year, have at least a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests.

USU'S WINTER ACADEMIC ALL-WAC SELECTIONS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Jessica Freeman, Sr., 3.62, ArtBrittany Hagen, Jr., 3.34, Pre-Physical TherapyAli Marchant, Sr., 3.54, PE TeachingTaylor Richards, So., 3.30, UndeclaredAnne Marie Torp, Jr., 3.35, Health EducationBrittany Tressler, Sr., 3.33, Exercise ScienceJenny Gross, So., 3.07, Family Consumer Science

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Chris Huber, Sr., 3.36, Business ManagementCass Matheus, Sr., 3.25, Business Administration

GYMNASTICS

Liesel Kohler, Sr., 3.31, Animal ScienceRachael Mandy, Jr., 3.90, Human Resource ManagementAlex Martin, Jr., 3.29, Exercise ScienceKatie Omann, So., 3.21, UndeclaredJessica Parenti, Jr., 3.52, Exercise ScienceAna Rickard, So., 3.17, Undeclared