On June 4, the 2008-2009 Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) team was announced. A total of 1,122 student athletes were selected from the thirteen different universities in the GLVC. Altogether, University of Missouri-St. Louis had fifty-seven players chosen this year.
To be selected, a player must have played a sport at one of the thirteen schools for at least two semesters while maintaining at least a 3.3 grade point average.
A player could also be selected by playing less than two semesters while maintaining a 3.4 GPA or higher. Each year the GLVC decides on what the academic standards will be for student-athletes to be selected. Last year, the academic standard was a 3.2 GPA.
Compared to the 12 other universities in the GLVC, UM-St. Louis received the second lowest amount of nominations with only Kentucky Wesleyan receiving less, with forty-five. Drury had the most student-athletes selected this year with one hundred and twenty-one.
Out of the 57 student athletes selected from UM-St. Louis, 19 were men, and 38 were women. For 23 players, it was their first time being selected. Thirteen players had been selected once before. Fourteen players had been selected twice before. Only seven players made this year's selection their fourth time.
There are a total of eleven different sports at UM-St. Louis and the only UM-St. Louis sport to not have at least one player selected this year was men's basketball. Last year, three players were selected from UM-St. Louis for men's basketball.
There are 15 different sports in the GLVC that were included in the list. UM-St. Louis does not have four of them, which include men's and women's cross country, and men's and women's track and field.
Last year, the Tritons had 71 players selected for the Academic All-GLVC team. With only 57 nominations this year, the Tritons had 14 fewer players selected this year than last year.
Katie Rynkiewich, sophomore, anthropology, received her first selection for women's tennis. Anthony was one of eight Tritons selected for women's tennis. In her freshman year her record was 3-11 in singles, and 8-11 in doubles.
"It's hard to play a sport and keep up with school work," Rynkiewich said.
"It took a lot of hard work and dedication. At the end of year it is rewarding to have the recognition," Rynkiewich said.
Rynkiewich plans to play again next season. Daniel Raj Anthony, junior, management information systems and an international student from India, was selected this year for the first time for men's tennis. Anthony was one of five Tritons selected for men's tennis.
The Tritons tied two other schools, Drury and Indianapolis, in having the most players selected for men's tennis. Anthony posted a record of 6-17 in singles, and 15-11 in doubles for the year.
"It means a lot to me to be chosen," Anthony said "and being an international student it means even more."
Anthony intends to play again next season for the Tritons. Erin Konkol, graduate, international finance, received her fourth nomination this year for women's tennis. Konkol was one of eight Tritons selected for women's tennis. In her final season, Konkel's average score was 87.3.
"It looks good on resumes," Konkol said, "and [it] shows your dedication to not only sports, but to learning as well."
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