July 13, 2012

ATHENS-----A total of 19 University of Georgia baseball student-athletes earned academic recognition from the Southeastern Conference, the league announced this week. 

Fourteen veteran Bulldogs made the SEC Academic Honor Roll while five freshmen landed a spot on the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. To qualify for the SEC Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must: maintain a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) for the preceding academic year or have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 at UGA, if the student-athlete is enrolled in summer courses the GPA for those courses must be included in the calculation for cumulative GPA, have completed 24 semester hours of academic credit toward a baccalaureate degree, and have been a member of a varsity team for the entire year. Meanwhile, the first-year student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above, be on scholarship or have earned a varsity letter; have completed 24 semester hours at UGA; and have been a member of the squad the entire year.

SEC Academic Honor Roll

Bryan Benzor, Loganville, Ga., Communication Studies; 
Brett DeLoach, Blackshear, Ga., Management; 
Chase Hawkins, Snellville, Ga., Management Information Systems; 
Jonathan Hester, Savannah, Ga., Biological Engineering; 
Taylor Hicks, Statham, Ga., Sport Management; 
Levi Hyams, Stafford, Va., Communication Studies; Colby May, Guyton, Ga., Communication Studies; 
Michael Palazzone, Marietta, Ga., Finance; 
Curtis Powell, Knoxville, Tenn., Communication Studies; 
Ross Ripple, Marietta, Ga., Business; 
Kevin Ruiz, Alpharetta, Ga., Finance; 
Jay Swinford, Athens, Ga., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; 
Peter Verdin, Alexandria, Va., Sport Management; 
Alex Wood, Charlotte, N.C., Sport Management.

SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

Justin Bryan, Lavonia, Ga., Business; Hunter Cole, Moore, S.C., Biology; Pete Nagel, Metter, Ga., Sport Management; Daniel (DJ) Smith, Woodstock, Ga.; Criminal Justice; John Taylor, Carnesville, Ga., Business.

Overall, Georgia led the SEC with 128 student-athletes on the Spring Sports Honor Roll featuring members of the baseball, golf, softball, tennis, track and field and equestrian programs.