UCI athletes make the grade for Big West honors

Thirteen UC Irvine student-athletes have earned 2009 Academic All-Big West Conference honors for winter sports.

A total of 92 student-athletes from nine-member institutions were recognized from the winter sports of men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving.

To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average, have attained a sophomore standing academically and competed in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests.

UC Irvine’s honorees include ...

Men’s basketball: Kevin Bland

Women’s basketball: Kelly Cochran

Men’s swimming and diving: Blaine Fletcher, James Frank, Brian Johnson, David Lefstein, Eric Nugent, Patrick Nugent, Nate Rogers, Walid Wasfy and Raymond Yan.

Women’s swimming and diving: Jessica Schlitz and Marlena Tonelli.

— From staff reports