June 12, 2003

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Seven Mountain West Conference student-athletes were named to the 2002-03 Verizon Academic All-America University Division At-Large Team for their accomplishments in the classroom and the competitive arena.

The MWC was represented with three members on the women's team lead by Verizon Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, Theresa Kulikowski of the University of Utah. A gymnast, Kulikowski posted a 4.0 grade point average and garners Academic All-America honors for the second consecutive year. She is a 14-time All-American and three-time NCAA champion. Kulikowski was voted AAI Senior Gymnast of the Year and holds school records for most career 10.0 scores (14) and career victories (111).

Also making the women's at-large team were San Diego State tennis player Silvia Tornier (second-team) and Wyoming golfer Alison McGuire (third-team).

The MWC placed four student-athletes on the men's at-large third-team including, Jernej Bukovec, Utah, skiing; Kaisorn Chaichana, Utah, tennis; John Dayton, Air Force, swimming; and Aaron Russell, BYU, swimming.

To be eligible for consideration, student-athletes must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a 4.00 scale. Individuals are selected by votes from the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Following is a listing of MWC student-athletes on the 2002-03 Verizon Academic All-America University Division At-Large Team:

Name                 School     Sport       GPA/Major                   Honor
Theresa Kulikowski   Utah       Gymnastics  4.00/Pre-Phyusical Therapy  First-Team*
Silvia Tornier       SDSU       Tennis      3.85/Kinesiology, MBA       Second-Team
Jernej Bukovec       Utah       Skiing      3.64/Finance                Third-Team
Kaisorn Chaichana    Utah       Tennis      3.99/Biology                Third-Team
John Dayton          Air Force  Swimming    3.79/Aerospace Engineering  Third-Team
Alison McGuire       Wyoming    Golf        4.00/Polictical Science     Third-Team
Aaron Russell        BYU        Swimming    3.52/Portuguese             Third-Team

* Denotes Verizon Academic All-America Team Member of the Year - University Division