PISCATAWAY - The Big Ten recognized 33 Rutgers student-athletes as Winter 2018 Academic All-Conference, it was announced on Wednesday. All eligible Rutgers programs are represented on the list, which includes 14 repeat selections and the school's first, four-time honoree in wrestling graduate student and three-time NCAA Championships qualifier Nick Gravina.

"Having our highest number of Big Ten Winter All-Academic honorees reflects the hard work and commitment of our student-athletes, coaches and academic support staff," said Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. "We are incredibly proud of our young men and women who excel, both off and on the field of play, while representing the State University of New Jersey. It's only fitting that the Big Ten made this announcement on Rutgers' Giving Day, as it further illustrates the importance of providing our student-athletes the necessary resources to achieve."

Rutgers' three-time Big Ten All-Academic honorees are seniors Libby Groden from gymnastics, as well as Thomasin Lee, Larissa Neilan, Karli Rymer and Addison Walkowiak from swimming & diving. Groden has been to NCAA Regionals as an all-arounder three times and became the first RU gymnast to earn All-Big Ten status last year. Walkowiak is a four-time NCAA Championships qualifier who earned Honorable Mention All-America honors last week after an 11th place finish in 1-meter diving at the Championships.

The Rutgers Leadership Academy and its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) was well represented once again on a Big Ten All-Academic Team. In addition to Gravina, Groden and Walkowiak, Joey Downes (men's basketball), Kathleen Fitzpatrick (women's basketball), Victoria Harris (women's basketball), Meghan Moses (swimming & diving) and Jordan Pagano (wrestling) are SAAC members. A committee of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience, the SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

The 33 Winter selections join the 78 Rutgers student-athletes who earned Academic All-Big Ten in the Fall. The 33 honorees signal the most winter selections for the Scarlet Knights since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15, surpassing the 32 honorees in Winter 2016.

Rutgers University's third annual Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising initiative that calls upon the entire Rutgers community to make an impact that will transform the future for generations to come. Visit givingday.rutgers.edu for additional information and to make a gift. 

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, student-athletes must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
 

Student-Athlete	Program	Class	Major(s)	Selection
Joey Downes	Men's Basketball	So.	Journalism And Media Studies	1st
Kathleen Fitzpatrick	Women's Basketball	Sr.	Communication	1st
Victoria Harris	Women's Basketball	Jr.	Public Health	2nd
Kate Hill	Women's Basketball	So.	Journalism And Media Studies	1st
Jazlynd Rollins	Women's Basketball	Sr.	Public Health	1st
Riahanah Ali	Gymnastics	Jr.	Psychology	2nd
Jenna Crisalli	Gymnastics	Sr.	Communication	2nd
Chloe DeVries	Gymnastics	So.	Criminal Justice	1st
Libby Groden	Gymnastics	Sr.	Visual Arts	3rd
Emma Karas	Gymnastics	So.	Human Resource Management	1st
Erin McLachlan	Gymnastics	So.	Journalism And Media Studies	1st
Polina Poliakova	Gymnastics	So.	Psychology	1st
Eriel Santagado	Gymnastics	Jr.	Evolutionary Anthropology	2nd
Makenzey Shank	Gymnastics	Sr.	Journalism And Media Studies	2nd
Marin Bloise	Swimming & Diving	Jr.	Communication	1st
Alexis Brewer	Swimming & Diving	So.	Exercise Science And Sport Studies	1st
Rachel Byrne	Swimming & Diving	Jr.	Biological Sciences	2nd
Sarah Davis	Swimming & Diving	So.	Nutritional Sciences	1st
Alexandra Fabugais-Inaba	Swimming & Diving	So.	Exercise Science And Sport Studies	1st
Vera Koprivova	Swimming & Diving	Jr.	Psychology	2nd
Clare Lawlor	Swimming & Diving	So.	Exercise Science And Sport Studies	1st
Thomasin Lee	Swimming & Diving	Sr.	Public Health / Psychology	3rd
Meghan Moses	Swimming & Diving	So.	Biological Sciences	1st
Nadia Nabhan	Swimming & Diving	So.	Exercise Science And Sport Studies	1st
Larissa Neilan	Swimming & Diving	Sr.	Public Health	3rd
Karli Rymer	Swimming & Diving	Sr.	Public Health	3rd
Abbey Saunders	Swimming & Diving	Jr.	Planning And Public Policy	1st
Francesca Stoppa	Swimming & Diving	Jr.	Visual Arts	2nd
Addison Walkowiak	Swimming & Diving	Sr.	Public Health	3rd
Brett Donner	Wrestling	So.	Exercise Science & Sports Studies	1st
Nicholas Gravina	Wrestling	Gr.	Counseling Psychology	4th
Jordan Pagano	Wrestling	Jr.	Psychology	2nd
John Van Brill	Wrestling	Sr.	Human Resource Management	2nd

 
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