WOODLAND, Calif. — Eight Sacramento State gymnasts were named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation all-academic team it was announced today. The eight are comprised of Stefanie Aeder, Sharee Burgess, Trista Condren, Meloney Greer, Carrie Kinghorn, Alexis Tsurumoto, Kelly Turner and Nirvana Zaher. The total tied UC Davis for the most in the six-team conference. To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.0 gpa, completed one full academic year at the institution and competed in over half of the team’s meets.Aeder, who was recently named the University’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year, is majoring in kinesiology. The Portland, Ore., native was the MPSF champion on floor exercise and advanced to the NCAA West Regional for the second-consecutive season. During the year, she finished first on floor in nine of the team’s 13 regular-season meets.
Burgess saw action in seven meets this season on floor. The Stockton, Calif., native scored a career-high 9.825 against UC Davis. A junior, Burgess is majoring in kinesiology.
A three-year starter, Condren was used on beam and floor during her junior season. The Atwater, Calif., native competed in all 13 meets during the season, including a 9.750 on beam and a 9.650 on floor at the MPSF Championships. The co-captain is majoring in management.
Greer earned second-team all-MPSF honors on bars during the season and was also a fixture in the Hornets’ vault lineup. The senior ranks third in school history on bars with a 9.925 and qualified for the NCAA West Regional as a junior. The Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, native is majoring in child development.
Kinghorn, who is majoring in kinesiology, enjoyed her most productive season at Sacramento State. The Salem, Ore., native was forced to become an all-arounder at the start of the season due to injuries and responded throughout the year. During the year, she established career highs on vault (9.700), bars (9.800), floor (9.700) and all-around (38.475). Her vault and all-around highs came at the MPSF Championships.
After sitting out all of 2004 with a knee injury, Tsurumoto came back this season and won the MPSF bars title. During the season, she finished first on bars in seven meets and earned a berth to the NCAA West Regional. Her top score came at the MPSF Championships where she recorded a 9.900. A native of Concord, Calif., Tsurumoto has yet to declare a major.
A native of Houston, Texas, Kelly Turner has been a four-year member of the team. This past season, Turner saw action in eight meets on vault and also had one beam routine. During her career, the Hornets have won three conference titles. Turner is majoring in public relations and is graduating this spring.
Zaher came to Sacramento State as a 16-year old freshman four years ago. Since that time, she has won three team titles and four individual titles. As a freshman, she won beam at the MPSF Championships and then added three-straight vault titles. A native of Cairo, Egypt, Zaher competed in all 13 meets this season, including eight as an all-arounder. She is majoring in kinesiology.
---30---
