Cowgirls Earn Academic All-Big 12 Accolades

Michela Ongaro

October 31, 2017 | Cowgirl Soccer

IRVING, Texas – Oklahoma State tied a program record with 15 Cowgirls earning recognition on the 2017 Academic All-Big 12 Soccer Team, it was announced by the conference office today.

OSU's 15 Academic All-Big 12 selections were the second most in the league this season, and the Cowgirls placed 13 student-athletes on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team for a second consecutive year, a total that fell just one shy of the program record.

Highlighting OSU's list of honorees are Julia Lenhardt and Michela Ongaro, who were two of 16 Big 12 student-athletes nominated with a 4.00 grade point average.

Ongaro, a May 2016 graduate of OSU with a degree in finance who is currently pursuing her MBA, concludes her career as a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team performer. She is one of three Cowgirl seniors to earn Academic All-Big 12 First Team status three times in their careers as Anna Beffer and Laurene Tresfield also achieved that distinction.

Another Cowgirl senior, Holly Brehmer, also finishes her career as a three-time honoree; Brehmer was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team this season after previously earning first-team accolades twice.

Tanya de Souza rounds out OSU's senior class of Academic All-Big 12 selections as she collected first-team plaudits.

Four Cowgirl juniors achieved Academic All-Big 12 status, with Lana Duke, Allie Rivers and Coumba Sow earning spots on the first team, and Haley Woodard bringing home second-team honors.

Completing OSU's list of Academic All-Big 12 First Team performers are sophomores Claire Gantzer, Elise Hawn, Jaci Jones and Kirsten Siragusa and redshirt freshman Amy Nguyen.

The 2017 Academic All-Big 12 Soccer Team features 117 honorees, 106 of those on the first team. First-team members consist of those student-athletes who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second-team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.