By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Amidst the unknown challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the student-athletes of Tennessee Tech University achieved at an all-time rate during the Spring 2020 semester.
In the classroom, the student-athletes succeeded at their highest standard to date. For the 23rd consecutive semester, the Tennessee Tech student-athletes posted a composite grade point average higher than 3.0, concluding the Spring 2020 semester with an historic mark of 3.58.
"I am so incredibly proud of the hard work and diligence that our student-athletes put forth over this past semester," said director of athletics Mark Wilson. "During these unprecedented times, for them to achieve at all-time high levels is simply remarkable and I applaud each and every one of them. The faculty and staff of Tennessee Tech University are incredible and overcome numerous obstacles to make this semester a success for not just our student-athletes, but every Golden Eagle student on campus. We thank them for their efforts and dedication."
During the Spring semester, each of Tech's 14 teams finished with a grade point average above 3.0. A record 12 teams accumulated program records for single-semester GPA numbers, including baseball, women's golf, men's golf, men's cross country, women's cross country, football, men's basketball, volleyball, women's basketball, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field and softball.
The Tech women's golf team boasted the highest GPA in the department, earning a 3.78 mark. Men's golf compiled a 3.76 GPA as a squad to finish second among the Golden Eagle programs. Women's basketball rounded out the top-three with a 3.75 composite GPA.
Yet again, the volleyball team kept its streak of consecutive semesters with a team GPA of 3.0 or better rolling, which dates back to the Fall of 2000, achieving its 40th straight with a mark of 3.68. Soccer achieved its 33rd straight semester besting the 3.0 mark while softball (3.63) and women's indoor (3.58) and outdoor (3.52) track & field all increased their respective runs to 32 consecutive semesters.
Tennis completed its 24th uninterrupted semester above 3.0 with a GPA of 3.64 while women's cross country reached its 16th consecutive semester. Women's golf has run its streak to 15 straight semesters.
"It takes a lot of people throughout the University to help our student-athletes achieve at such a high level, and this semester is no different," Wilson added. "The extra efforts made by (Assistant Athletics Director for Academics and Student-Athlete Welfare) Dr. Leveda Dexter and her staff, Samantha Bates, Virginia Lewis, Kara Phillips and Marilyn Borch-Jensen, cannot go overlooked and I appreciate their dedication to our student-athletes and their futures.
"I also want to recognize our head coaches and each of their staffs for their efforts in the success of their work in the classroom, particularly these past few months. It means so much to me, to our department and to our University to see these young men and women excel in so many ways, and they play an integral role in that as well."
