ISU gymnasts displayed their academic superiority over the rest of the Big 12 Conference by landing a total of 10 gymnasts on the Academic All-Big 12 team — the most of any school — with seven on the first team and three honorable mentions.

To make the first team, a GPA of 3.30 or better is required, and, to receive an honorable mention, a 3.00-3.29 GPA is required.

Cyclone Head Gymnastics Coach Amy Pyle had not heard the news when she was interviewed, and thus was pleasantly surprised.

“We did that? It’s wonderful, of course, but nobody told me,” Pyle said.

The Cyclones who made the first team are Libby Bell, a junior in sociology; Kim and Karen Mazza, seniors in finance; their sister Katie, a senior in psychology and journalism; Kayo Merrit, a junior in graphic design; Martha Strain, a freshman in exercise and sport science; and Amy Wall, a junior in exercise and sport science.

The honorable mentions from Iowa State are Shannon Herzog, a junior in exercise and sport science; Sarah Hodgson, a sophomore in journalism and mass communication; and Heidi Kirt, a junior in exercise and sport science.

“They’re very dedicated people, student athletes and academicians. They always go 100 percent, and are successes wherever they go,” Pyle said.

The Mazzas who are believed to be the first triplets to have ever represented Iowa State in any sport, are among the team leaders, according to Pyle. “Kim is our best performer. She made it to the NCAA nationals as an individual performer and was 24th in the nation in the all-around. She has received the Big 12 Post Graduate Scholarship, worth $2500, and the $6000 NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship,” Pyle said.

Pyle had earlier in the season described the team as “the most talented group ever, here at Iowa State.” Now it seems that they are not only the most talented group athletically at Iowa State, but also the most talented academically in their conference.