Contact: Cara Lynn Rasmussen
Phone: (850) 450-5646
January 18, 2005

Carmichael Earns Academic All-GSC Honors;
11 Argonauts Named to GSC Academic Honor Roll

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - First the first time since the 2000 season, a West Florida men's cross country harrier earned Academic All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) honors. Caleb Carmichael, a junior from Tallahassee was named to the 2004 list. In addition, 11 Argonauts made the GSC Academic Honor Roll.

Carmichael had three top 10 finishes in UWF's limited season, and he secured a spot on the All-GSC First Team with a seventh place finish at the conference tournament. He ran the 8K race in 25:57.1. Also, Carmichael posted the fifth best 10K time in West Florida history at the 2004 NCAA South Regional. He had a mark of 33:03 for 26th place. Carmichael posts a 3.75 GPA in physical education.

Making the GSC Academic Honor Roll alongside Carmichael from the men's cross country team were Brian Gowin (3.74, professional accounting), Craig Henry (3.15, undecided) and Josh Wyatt (3.53, exercise science). Representing the UWF women's cross country team were Kim Burgess (3.68, exercise science), Lindsey Failing (3.94, health, leisure & exercise science), Summer Forester (3.76, recreation, resort & tourism management), Jen Pulmano (3.25, pre-professional biology), Frency Ramos (3.38, recreation, resort & tourism management), Diana Sitar (3.72, exercise science) and Rebecca Thielemann (3.54, pre-professional biology).

West Florida soccer and volleyball players were ineligible for awards due to the cancellation of their seasons. The 2003-04 school year marked the ninth straight year the 196 varsity athletes' GPAs have risen at UWF - for the first time breaking 3.00 in the fall and maintaining the GPA through the spring. It was also the 10th year in a row in which athletes outperformed the rest of teh student body academically.