April 16, 2008

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DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis sophomores Lida Gehlen, Kendall McCann and Christine Tao each were named to the 2008 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Women's Gymnastics Academic All-Confererence Team, it was announced by executive director Al Beaird on Wednesday. This is the first selection for all three gymnasts.

To earn selection to the academic all-conference team, student-athletes must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better; be of sophomore, junior or senior academic standing; have completed one full academic year at the member institution prior to the season in question; and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competition for the year.

Gehlen, an animal biology major from Sun City, Calif., won the MPSF title on uneven bars with a career-high 9.900. She was one of three Aggies to advance to last Saturday's NCAA West Regional, where she posted the program's highest-ever individual finish with a tie for third on bars.

Tao, a design major from Maple Valley, Wash., transferred to UC Davis from the University of Washington prior to the 2007 gymnastics season. She capped the recent year by capturing a share of the balance beam title at the MPSF Championships, scoring a career-high 9.800 in the event.

McCann, an exercise biology major from Belmont, Calif., appeared mostly as a bars and beam specialist during the 2008 season. She had her best meet in a road dual at Alaska-Anchorage on January 27, scoring personal-best marks of 9.700 on uneven bars and 9.750 on balance beam, the latter of which was good for the meet title.

A total of 16 gymnasts earned Academic All-MPSF accolades in 2008. Seattle Pacific and Alaska Anchorage each had five honorees, while UC Davis and Air Force had three. SPU senior Christie Chinaka had the conference's highest GPA, compiling a 3.82 average.

UC Davis won its first MPSF title with a school-record 194.700 score at the championship meet on March 28.