New Mexico student-athletes have been making noise in the classroom in addition to their performance for their respected sports programs.
On Monday, UNM announced five UNM programs set cumulative GPA records for their respected teams. Men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s skiing, and both men and women’s track and field all fielded program-bests for their GPAs in fall of 2015.
The six record-breaking marks aided the best GPA scores for male, female, and the highest GPA for all student athletes in a single semester. Female student-athletes combined for an overall GPA of 3.57 while the males hit a 3.10 for their department records. The two combined for a 3.30 mark.
“Our student-athletes have continually put in the work in the classroom and on the field,” Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs said in Monday’s release. “I want to congratulate Dr. Henry Villegas and his Student Success staff, our coaches, who recruit great student-athletes as well and out terrific faculty and staff on campus. Our goal is to educate and graduate student-athletes, and we are succeeding.”
The overall department score of 3.30 ousted UNM’s previous cumulative GPA for a single-semester of 3.25, a mark set in spring of 2014. According to the release it is the seventh semester that New Mexico student-athletes have scored a 3.2 or better, and the 15th consecutive semester of 3.0 or higher.
The women’s basketball team put together a 3.62 cumulative grade point average, beating its previous high of 3.52 recorded in fall of 2002.
Last semester’s 3.6 score bested the UNM men’s golf team’s previous high of 3.55 set in spring of 2010.
Women’s track and field, which according to the release, accounts for the NCAA national champion cross-country runners, scored a 3.64. Men’s track and field have come up with program highs in each of the last three semesters, this one being a 3.5 GPA.
Men’s basketball recorded their record of a 3.15 grade point average marking five consecutive semesters of a 2.7 GPA under Craig Neal, the only UNM men’s basketball coach to achieve such a feat.
Women’s skiing was the high-scorer for both men and women’s sports setting a UNM GPA record of 3.95 for the fall 2015 semester. Though Men’s ski didn’t set a record, their squad turned in a 3.65 GPA, the highest for any men’s team.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers volleyball, women’s basketball, baseball, and beach volleyball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
