Southeast gymnast Blake gets Academic All-American honor

Southeast Missouri State gymnast Sandra Blake has been named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American At-Large Third Team, becoming the first Southeast female athlete to collect such an honor since 2004.

Blake, who recently helped the Redhawks to their second NCAA regional berth in three seasons, has maintained a 4.0 grade point average through her junior year.

ESPN the Magazine academic teams are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America and feature three 15-woman squads. Blake is one of seven gymnasts among the 45 athletes honored.

Blake also was a two-time all-District 7 selection in the at-large category.

Former Redhawks soccer player Jen Cross was the last Southeast female to collect Academic All-American honors, selected first team in 2004.

Former Southeast basketball player Derek Winans was a first-team Academic All-American in 2005.