WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary men's gymnastics team has been awarded the 2012 national academic team title after posting the country's top combined grade point average (3.53). This marks the fifth time that Tribe gymnasts have won the national academic team title since the inception of the award in 1991.

Tribe gymnasts also continue to lead the nation with more individual Academic All-America Scholar-Athlete honors than any other program in men's gymnastics.

In addition to the academic success, W&M finished the 2012 campaign ranked 14th nationally, while nine Tribe gymnasts competed as individuals at the NCAA Championships last spring.

"The sustained effort it takes to excel at such a high level in the classroom while devoting up to 20 hours a week in workouts and then competing in or traveling to compete in meets against the best teams in the nation on weekends is absolutely remarkable," said Cliff Gauthier, W&M men's gymnastics head coach. "Success on and off the field of play is what William and Mary athletics is all about, and I could not be prouder of our team."

Six William and Mary gymnasts received first team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete designation by the College Gymnastics Association for the 2012 season: rising seniors Matt Burns (psychology and business) and Kris Yeager (American studies),   rising juniors Landon Funiciello (kinesiology and health sciences/pre-med), Daniel Potemski (economics) and Sam Patterson (economics), and rising sophomore Peter Ten Eyck (undeclared). Second-team Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete designations were awarded to graduating seniors Steve Deutsch (finance and psychology), Daniel Melzar (kinesiology and health sciences), and Jonathan Prohov (international relations-global studies), graduating junior Futa Ikeda (neuroscience), and rising sophomores Michael Deitz, J. J. Jindra, and Jason Wang, all with undeclared majors.

Prior to this year, W&M gymnasts claimed the national academic team title in 1991, 1992, 2002 and 2008. The Tribe gymnasts also placed second in 1994, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2009, and finished third in 1999, 2006, and 2011.