'Dogs Send Six To Academic All-SEC Honors
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Six Mississippi State softball players, including two from the class of 2001, earned 2002 Academic all-SEC accolades here Tuesday, aising the Maroon and White's SEC-leading total to 48 in the five years that any SEC player has been eligible for the award. Four current players -- Brooke Best, Jennifer Jessup, Jennifer Nelson and Kasey Whitehead -- as well as two former players -- Anna Joyce Lott and Robyn Schlagheck -- were honored for their achievements in the classroom during the 2001 season. It was the fourth conference academic honor for Lott and Schlagheck. Leading the way for the Mississippi State honorees was Lott who maintains a 3.57 overall GPA in Accounting and Jessup who maintains a 3.45 GPA in Teaching and Coaching. Schlagheck holds down a 3.20 in Teaching and Coaching, Nelson has a 3.14 in Communication, Best maintains a 3.12 in Teaching and Coaching and Whitehead is currently holding a 3.05 in Fitness Management. The honors pushed the Maroon and White's five-year total to 48 accolades, which easily paces the Southeastern Conference over the last five seasons. Georgia and Kentucky have the second-most honorees with 34. State will have 10 athletes eligible to win the award in 2003. The Bulldog softball team has played a vital role in helping the overall athletics program at Mississippi State garner national recognition for its high marks in the classroom and in the athletic arena. Each year, Mississippi State University produces a lion's share of Academic All-Southeastern Conference classroom stars. Seventh-seeded Mississippi State (34-27) will open its portion of 2002 SEC Tournament play here Thursday as the Bulldogs suit up to face second-seeded and SEC Eastern Division champion South Carolina (40-16) in the opening round. First pitch of the contest is slated for 2 p.m. EDT. All games of the 2002 SEC Softball Tournament can be followed over the internet via a live stats link at www.SECSports.com.