Twelve Jayhawks named to Academic All-Big 12 squads
IRVING, Texas – A program-record 12 Jayhawks were listed on the Academic All-Big 12 teams announced by the league office Tuesday. Nine Jayhawks were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, five of whom earned first team nods for the third time. The announcement marked the eighth time in nine seasons KU has had eight or more selected to the conference’s all-academic team.
The Jayhawks saw three earn first team honors with the help of 4.0 GPAs. Seniors Aurélie Gagnet (political science), Hanna Kallmaier (exercise science) and Kaley Smith (exercise science) were selected to the first team for the third time, all with perfect grade-point averages.
Other three-time first team honorees included senior Tayler Estrada (exercise science), senior Ashley Pankey (human biology) and senior Morgan Williams (microbiology).
Rounding out the Jayhawks’ first team selections were junior Hannah Lukinac (elementary education) and sophomores Anna Courtney (business administration) and Grace Hagan (biology). All three earned spots on the first team for the first time.
Kansas also saw a trio named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team. Senior Jackie Georgoulis (elementary education) made the list for the first time along with juniors Maddie Dobyns (communication studies) and Kayla Morrison (communication studies).
This marks the 11th-straight season KU has put at least six student-athletes on the Academic All-Big 12 Teams. All seven of the Jayhawk seniors made either the first or second team, while eight of KU’s 11 starters found themselves honored on the lists.
To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
Kansas concluded its regular season last weekend going 10-4-4 overall to earn the No. 2 seed at the Big 12 Soccer Championship to be held in Kansas City, Missouri this week. The Jayhawks are scheduled to take on No. 7-seeded TCU on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 5:30 p.m., inside the Swope Soccer Village.
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