They may have had varying degrees of success on the playing field this past year, but regardless of wins or losses, Sun Devil athletes consistently succeeded in one place over the last 12 months - in the classroom.
ASU can count 39 athletes on its rosters as Pac-10 All-Academics following the conference's unveiling of its 2002 All-Academic teams last week.
"That is the goal, for everyone to do as well as they possibly can academically and athletically," softball coach Linda Wells said. "I think it also sending a message that this is what Arizona State is about."
"It gives greater incentive to younger players to say 'Oh, they did it and I can do it too.'"
Wells' softball program boasts four Pac-10 All-Academics this year as well as a National All-Academic in Kara Brun. Earlier this month, Brun was named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-American second team for her 3.42 GPA in communications.
But by far the most prolific at making the All-Academic teams this year has to be the Sun Devil track and field program, which saw 19 of its athletes named to the Pac-10 lists in 2002.
This year's selections marked the first time track and field has had its own academic teams.
Junior Lisa Aguilera, who was named to the 2000 fall team as an at-large recipient as well as to the spring 2001 team, made the second-team All-Academic list with a 3.49 GPA as a double major in both finance and computer Engineering.
Seven more women made the Pac-10 lists, with senior Olivia Mazzaglia earning first-team honors with a 3.93 GPA while majoring in journalism.
The men's track and field contingent saw 11 current and former Sun Devils earn honors. Leading the pack was Justin Owen with his 3.77 GPA in finance while teammates J.R. Cox and Cheyne Jones made second team honors.
The ASU softball program also watched as four of its players were named to the Pac-10 academic team, with senior Erica Beach and juniors Kara Brun and Jennifer Forner making first-team honors. Senior catcher Bonnie Brannen was named a second-team selection with her 3.37 GPA as a biology major.
"That is their job here," Wells said, "to come in and be not just an athlete, but a student athlete."
Six Sun Devil baseball players were named to their Pac-10 All-Academic team with outfielder Ryan McKenna being named as a first-team selection while Cesar Castillo and Aaron Klusman were honored as second-team selections.
McKenna, who started 20 games for the Sun Devils last season, currently holds a 3.65 GPA while majoring in interdisciplinary studies. Klusman's 3.49 GPA and Castillo's 3.21 GPA in secondary education helped both players attract the attention of the Pac-10.
The baseball program, which has now had 11 All-Academics since the first selections were made in 1999, also saw pitchers Ryan Schroyer and Mke Esposito as well as infielder Nick Walsh named to the honorable mention selection list.
The ASU tennis program had four of its athletes make All-Academic honors, with junior Mhairi Brown's perfect 4.00 GPA and Megan Yeats' 3.63 GPA as an English major leading the way.
On the men's side, sophomore Olivier Charroin (3.57 GPA) and Mirza Duranovic also made the academic teams, with Charroin making second team and Duranovic being named to the honorable mention squad.
Golf's Michaela Friberg and Lisa Meredith both were named honorable mention selections for the women's golf team while senior Jeff Quinney's 3.29 GPA as a finance major helped him to a first-team selection for the men's team. Sun Devil Ryan Whitaker also made the first team with a 3.42 GPA.
The golf program also saw senior Chris O'Connor named a second-team selection while teammate Brett Johnson was named to the honorable mention team.
Wells is quick to point out that no matter what resources ASU might provide, it is up to the student to take advantage of the opportunity.
"It's these athletes that did this," Wells said of the academic honors. "You provide the resources but it's the person that does it."
Reach the reporter at al.stevens@asu.edu.
