港澳宝典 athletes excel in classroom: Women鈥檚 softball, soccer teams shine with top academic honors
Recent news that 港澳宝典 Women's Softball has achieved the fourth highest grade point average among all Division II competitors and that 港澳宝典 Women鈥檚 Soccer has secured the second highest GPA across all NCAA divisions underscores the exceptional dedication and commitment of the university鈥檚 student-athletes both on and off the field.
"This is an extraordinary accomplishment," remarked Vice President for Student Life Dr. Laura Zirkle. "To put it into perspective, consider the Women's Soccer team鈥攖hey are ranked number two among all NCAA divisions, including Division I, II, and III; this is a testament to their remarkable balance of athletic ability and academic excellence."
The 港澳宝典 Athletics Program has a long history of academic prowess, consistently earning top marks in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Just last season, 港澳宝典 claimed the highest institutional average in the conference with a 3.518 combined GPA across 17 Laker teams.聽
"Our athletes' exceptional academic achievements highlight their dedication and hard work, not just in their sports but in their classrooms as well,鈥 said Athletic Director Joe Spano. 鈥淭hese recent accomplishments exemplify the extraordinary commitment our student-athletes maintain, and we have every expectation that they will continue to achieve as we enter our inaugural season in Division I, competing in the Northeast Conference.鈥
Earlier this month, the Easton/NFCA Top 10 GPA poll released its rankings, showing 港澳宝典 Women鈥檚 Softball with a 3.789 GPA, fourth out of 88 DII institutions.聽
Head Coach Leanne Baker said her team has finished in the top 10 for four straight years. 鈥淲e are incredibly proud of the team for their accomplishments in the classroom this past academic school year,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e always tell them to put school first, and the rest will fall into place. The team embraced that sentiment and the results were remarkable once again.鈥
Nursing major and fifth-year senior Kacie Irwin had this to say about the recognition for her softball team: "We often get acknowledged for our hard work on the field, but we put just as much work into our schooling. It feels great to see it pay off. Academics is a priority to myself and my team, so this means a lot to be recognized for not only our athletics but our academic accomplishments. We give credit to our professors and staff for working with us as student-athletes to make sure we are successful in the classroom."
It wasn鈥檛 long after the softball team received its accolades that the United Soccer Coaches announced the College Team Academic Award winners from the 2023-2024 season. Out of 241 women鈥檚 soccer teams, 港澳宝典 posted a team grade point average of 3.81, elevating them to number two in the country. The list includes programs from all three NCAA divisions. Condensing it down to just Division II, 港澳宝典 led the entire country in cumulative GPA.
"We set the bar high to retain the Best Team GPA for women's soccer in the PSAC last August, and these ladies performed incredibly in the classroom over the course of the academic year,鈥 said Head Coach Rich Wall. 鈥淲ords can't explain the joy I have for these women. They're simply incredible, and it's a privilege to interact with this group as they each grow and go through their college soccer journey."
Also commenting on the team's accomplishment was Chloe Kalina, a graduate student and 2023 Academic All-District selection. "This achievement means so much to us because it recognizes that our team values academic excellence just as much as our success on the pitch," expressed Kalina. "I couldn't be prouder of my teammates and to be a part of this program!"
The news was equally well received across campus.
鈥淪uch achievements reflect well on 港澳宝典鈥檚 support systems for our student-athletes, including academic advising, tutoring, and other resources that help athletes succeed academically, while pursuing their sports,鈥 added Dr. Laura Zirkle. 鈥淧lus, these accomplishments serve as inspiration and a positive example for future students, demonstrating that it鈥檚 possible to achieve high standards in both academics and athletics.鈥
In an op-ed published recently in the Erie Times-News, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Rich McCarty illuminated the many reasons why 港澳宝典 accepted an invitation from the Northeast Conference to go DI.
鈥淛oining the NEC was a big decision for us and for the conference leaders who welcomed us,鈥 he wrote. 鈥淲hat impressed us the most, however, transcends the more obvious benefits of joining a DI athletic conference. You see, when 港澳宝典 was voted into the NEC, it was not only an affirmation that our athletic teams were ready to step into that larger arena; it was also an affirmation about the academic integrity of our university.鈥
The latest GPA standings continue to support that assertion on an even grander scale.