In the fall, as NSU students adjusted to the BlendFlex model due to COVID-19, NSU Athletics earned a record-setting 3.41 department-wide Grade Point Average (GPA) across all 16 athletic programs.
This GPA record is not the only mark NSU Athletics made in the classroom. Since NSU Athletics’ first year of NCAA competition in 2002, NSU has maintained the annual standard for the past 18 years. This past fall semester will mark the 21st semester that the department GPA exceeded a 3.0. Furthermore, this fall also marked the ninth consecutive semester that the NSU Athletics earned a 3.20 GPA or higher.
On an individual level, 79% of student-athletes scored above a 3.0 GPA last semester, with 32 student-athletes earning a 4.0 and 84 student-athletes named on the Director’s List.
According to Molly Griswold, senior marketing major and NSU swimmer, setting a GPA record proves that NSU student-athletes are well-rounded individuals. Griswold believes even though their commitment to their sport is usually what is in focus, their success in academics on top of a rigorous team schedule is something not to be overlooked, especially since these athletes represent themselves as NSU Sharks inside and outside of their sport.
This fall, the women’s golf team, which was ranked No. 1 nationally last season, led all athletic programs with a 3.77 GPA.
“We strive to be the best on the course and in the classroom every single year. This year was like no other, and I am so proud of how the girls handled the situation and made the best of it. The NSU student-athletes as a whole showed how resilient they are and that they can overcome any obstacle thrown at them,” said Heather Wall, head coach of women’s golf.
Women’s golf was closely followed by women’s volleyball with a GPA of 3.68, softball with a team record of 3.58, tennis at 3.57, cross-country at 3.53 and with swimming and track tied at a 3.49 GPA. The men’s golf team earned a program best of 3.43 followed by men’s cross country at 3.41 and men’s soccer at a 3.36 GPA.
According to the head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming, Ben Hewitt, these athletes faced unprecedented challenges this past semester, but found a way to pursue academic excellence despite the hardships.
“My hope is that it will give them the confidence to know that they are far more resilient than they know, that there is always a way to get the job done and that there are a multitude of resources out there for them. I believe it sets the standard for future semesters that they can think quick on their feet and show poise under pressure in more ways than one,” said Hewitt.
According to both Griswold and Hewitt, this semester was especially challenging since regular communication and encouragement between teammates as a support system was restricted due to social distancing requirements and the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I often struggled not being in the physical presence of many of my teammates. Because of the separation, it was harder to give and receive words of encouragement to my team at practice and in between classes. However, despite the distance, my support team never faded. I achieved academic success because my swim family and I constantly motivated and encouraged each other. These times have brought us all closer together,” said Griswold.
