By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As another semester drew to a close recently, the Tennessee Tech student-athletes continued to excel in the classroom.
In the Fall 2017 semester, they all combined for a composite 3.238 grade point average, the second highest in Tech Athletics history. For the 18th straight semester, since Spring 2009, the composite GPA of Tech's student-athletes has been above 3.0.
"That is a monumental achievement, not only for our student-athletes, but for those campus leaders who help shape them," said Tech director of athletics Mark Wilson. "From the coaches and instructors and faculty who keep them focused on their tasks at hand, to the fans and community who come out and support them, the goal at Tennessee Tech has been and will always be to see every single one of our student-athletes crossing the stage at graduation with a diploma in one hand and a championship ring on the other."
The top benchmark continues to be the 3.293 set in Spring 2014, while Fall 2017 makes its home in second, followed by 3.234 in Fall 2016, 3.216 in Fall 2013 and 3.205 in Spring 2017.
In the Fall session, 13 of Tech's 14 intercollegiate athletics programs had grade point averages above 3.0 – the highest percentage of the department in school history at an amazing 93 percent. The previous highs came in Fall 2013, Spring 2014 and Fall 2014 as 12 of the 14 programs reached that mark.
"There is so much that our student-athletes take part in besides their athletic endeavors," Wilson said. "To reach heights like this, it takes a lot of people and trust in their efforts to help mold these young men and women into what they aspire to be. From (TTU Assistant Athletics Director for Academics) Dr. Lance Jasitt and our academic advising staff to our university's faculty and staff, they have all spent countless hours to ensure our student-athletes' success. Through their efforts, I am certain we will continue to shoot for greater heights."
The Tech women's soccer team held the semester's top GPA, posting a 3.650, narrowly topping the men's tennis team with a 3.647. The men's basketball team reached its highest GPA in program history with a 3.234, while the women's basketball team had their highest tally since Fall 2012 with a 3.167.
Volleyball (3.314) has Tech athletics' longest streak of success, now standing at 35 consecutive semesters with a 3.0 GPA or greater. Women's soccer is second (28 semesters), followed by softball (3.425, 27 semesters) women's indoor (3.051, 27 semesters) and outdoor track (3.169, 27 semesters). Tennis is at 19 semesters, while women's cross country (3.393) reached its 11th straight semester over 3.0 and women's golf (3.361) claimed their 10th.
