Navy Gymnastics Ranks Third Nationally in GPA

Eight Midshipmen Named First-Team All-America Scholar-Athletes

	Isaac Olson earned All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the third time in his career on Sunday

July 31, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy gymnastics team posted the nation's third-highest combined team grade point average in the College Gymnastics Association (CGA) academic rankings for 2007, it was released on Sunday evening. In addition to the team honors, eight Midshipmen were named 2007 CGA First-Team All-America Scholar-Athletes.

Navy's third-place team grade point average ranks as the highest this decade and marks the third top-five placing within the last-four years.

The Midshipmen produced a 3.207 grade point average as a team during the 2007 season, only behind Ohio State's 3.400 and Stanford's 3.360 grade point averages. Massachusetts Institute of Technology placed fourth with a 3.189 and Michigan rounded out the top five with a 3.155.

Recent graduate Sean Blackman (Fayetteville, Ga.), rising seniors Jon-Michael Chombeau (Beaverton, Ore.), Rich Mehlmann (Bristol, R.I.), David Ferris (Austintown, Ohio), Ty Fritz (Easton, Md.), Isaac Olson (Spokane, Wash.) and rising juniors James Godfrey (Columbia, S.C.) and Trey James (Matthews, N.C.) each attained at least a 3.50 grade point average to earn CGA First-Team All-America Scholar-Athlete distinction.

Blackman is one of six gymnasts this year to earn All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the fourth time in his career. Majoring in aerospace engineering, Navy's 2007 team captain was one of six competitors in the country to post a 4.0 grade point average.

For the third time in as many seasons, Ferris and Olson each have been recognized as All-America Scholar-Athletes by the CGA. Ferris, an honors systems engineering major, earned a 3.765 grade point average and Olson, an economics major, produced a 3.560 grade point average. Mehlmann joined Blackman, Ferris and Olson as a multiple recipient of the CGA's annual academic honor, as he boasted a 3.795 grade point average while majoring in international relations.

Chombeau, Fritz, Godfrey and James each earned All-America Scholar-Athlete status for the first time in their career on Sunday. Chombeau, an aerospace engineering major, recorded a 3.805 grade point average while Fritz, an economics major, registered a 3.610 grade point average, Godfrey, an English major, posted a 3.620 grade point average and James attained a 3.560 grade point average while majoring in systems engineering.

The 2007 Midshipmen finished fourth at the ECAC Championship, second at the USAG Collegiate Division Championship and sent seven gymnasts to the NCAA Qualifying Meet.