Spring Break
Three female athletes earn top C-USA academic award
Nicole Jacobsen, Editor in Chief, njacobse@smu.edu
Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: Sports
Receiving this recognition for the second consecutive year is golfer Kate Ackerson, who recently graduated from SMU with a degree in business. A four-time All Conference USA golfer and a member of the C-USA Women's Golf All-Academic Team, Ackerson tied for sixth place at the C-USA Conference Championships. From Allen, Texas, Ackerson is also a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Team member.
"It's a wonderful feeling winning this award. It is rewarding having my hard work in school and golf recognized," Ackerson said. "Golf and school were my No. 1 priority, so I always made sure I kept it that way throughout my four years."
Planning on turning professional in the fall, Ackerson graduated as a four-time C-USA Academic Medal winner and member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
"It was very hard to balance golf and school, but I would always prioritize my school and golf to make sure I finished what needed to be done first," explained Ackerson.
The 14-time All-American, Petra Klosova of the SMU swim team, received the award for the first time in her final year on the Hilltop. Leading the Mustangs to a 19th place finish in the NCAA Tournament in the 2009 season, Klosova has been a 15-time C-USA Champion, and 2006 Freshman of the Year and the 2007 C-USA Swimmer of the year.
"Swimming practices alternating with school were times when I could just turn off my head and forget school for a while, so at night I was fresher to study again," Klosova said of juggling swimming and school. "I guess the ambition and discipline we got from the sport showed up at school as well, but also the emphasis on hard work not just in the sport but also at school coming from our coaches was a motivation to do well."
Coming to Dallas from the Czech Republic, Klosova excelled in the freestyle, individual medley and butterfly races and received the team's Mustang Award for performance, dedication and enthusiasm. Finishing 13th in the NCAA Tournament, Klosova recorded a record-season time for SMU for the 400 freestyle relay team
The award, presented to the top student athlete in each C-USA sport is voted on and approved by the C-USA Board of Directors, and is based the student's overall GPA and athletic achievement and service.
"It's a wonderful feeling winning this award. It is rewarding having my hard work in school and golf recognized," Ackerson said. "Golf and school were my No. 1 priority, so I always made sure I kept it that way throughout my four years."
Planning on turning professional in the fall, Ackerson graduated as a four-time C-USA Academic Medal winner and member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
"It was very hard to balance golf and school, but I would always prioritize my school and golf to make sure I finished what needed to be done first," explained Ackerson.
The 14-time All-American, Petra Klosova of the SMU swim team, received the award for the first time in her final year on the Hilltop. Leading the Mustangs to a 19th place finish in the NCAA Tournament in the 2009 season, Klosova has been a 15-time C-USA Champion, and 2006 Freshman of the Year and the 2007 C-USA Swimmer of the year.
"Swimming practices alternating with school were times when I could just turn off my head and forget school for a while, so at night I was fresher to study again," Klosova said of juggling swimming and school. "I guess the ambition and discipline we got from the sport showed up at school as well, but also the emphasis on hard work not just in the sport but also at school coming from our coaches was a motivation to do well."
Coming to Dallas from the Czech Republic, Klosova excelled in the freestyle, individual medley and butterfly races and received the team's Mustang Award for performance, dedication and enthusiasm. Finishing 13th in the NCAA Tournament, Klosova recorded a record-season time for SMU for the 400 freestyle relay team
The award, presented to the top student athlete in each C-USA sport is voted on and approved by the C-USA Board of Directors, and is based the student's overall GPA and athletic achievement and service.
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