Thompson Added to Georgia College Hall of Fame Class

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The Georgia College Department of Athletics is pleased to announce its 2011 class for the Georgia College Athletics Hall of Fame. Over the next three days, the remaining members of the next induction class will be revealed. Next up is former Colonial gymnast Yeini (Gutierrez) Thompson.

A four-time NAIA All-American from 1983-86, Thompson also brought home NAIA Academic All-American honors each of those four seasons. She also picked up the NCAA National Gymnastics Coaches Association All-America Award all four seasons, and was named the NAIA’s Outstanding National Gymnast of the Year Award in 1986. The award was given to the top student-athlete nationally for highest athletic, academic and leadership qualities in gymnastics as voted on by the NAIA Executive Committee.

Thompson represented Georgia College well internationally as well, competing as a member of the Mexican National Olympic Team, Pan-American World Championship Team, World University Team and the Central American Team.
A National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC) All-American as well, Thompson was a Summa Cum Laude Graduate in Pre-Medicine. She is the second gymnast to be named to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.

Thompson will join previous inductees Jennifer Joiner from softball, Phil Arp, John Kurtz, Rusty Kea, Greg Winters and Tom Gorman from baseball, Duward Whelchel, Julia Roudkovskaya, Anna (Haggkvist) Sundstrom, Jay Torrence and Lilia Biktyakova from tennis, Robert Williams, Leonard Scott and Julius Joseph from men's basketball, Sherita Ballard from women's basketball, David Robinson and Alex McMichael from golf, Missy (Thomas) Swicord from gymnastics and former athletic director and golf coach Michael Peeler.

Thompson, tennis’ Lars Lindblom, baseball’s Keith Slocumb and two other new inductees will be honored as part of Homecoming/Alumni Weekend Saturday, Feb. 19. They will be recognized at halftime of the men's game of a basketball doubleheader against Columbus State University and again at a formal ceremony in the Magnolia Ballroom, tentatively set for a 7 p.m. start.

For ticketing information on how to be a part of the Georgia College Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony Feb. 19, contact the athletic department administrative assistant Patti Weimer at 478-445-6341.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, back-to-back winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/GCSUBobcats andwww.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.