NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State student-athletes continue to achieve high marks in the classroom, as the Redbirds compiled a department record (not including Spring 2020 COVID semester) grade-point average (GPA) of 3.38 during the Spring 2023 semester.
"It's exciting to win games and championships, but at the end of the day education is our primary mission," ISU Interim Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs said. "The fact that our student-athletes spend so many hours on their respective sports and earn outstanding GPAs is a testament to their dedication and commitment to their education and future careers. I am incredibly impressed with their achievements in the classroom and want to congratulate our student-athletes and all the people who support them in their efforts."
A total of 332 Redbird student-athletes were named to the AFNI Honor Roll and a total of 130 student-athletes posted perfect 4.0 GPAs during the spring semester.
"Our Redbird student-athletes had another tremendous semester in the classroom this past spring," Assistant Athletics Director for Academics and Life Skills Joe Klausner said. "Achieving a 3.38 and breaking the departmental record is something our Redbirds should be extremely proud of. We approach academics and learning here at ISU as a tool that will last a lifetime long after they hang up their jerseys. We want to make sure we development our Redbirds as individuals off the competitive field of play and investing in their futures is critical to the success of our teams and department."
ISU's women's programs combined for a record 3.64 cumulative GPA, and the Illinois State men's teams combined to earn a 3.13 semester GPA. The Redbird women's golf team recorded the top GPA mark of the spring leading all programs with a 3.88 and the men's tennis team led the men's programs with a program record 3.80.
In total, four programs set new semester GPA records including: men's basketball (3.16), men's tennis (3.80), swimming & diving (3.76) and women's track & field (3.53).
"A big thank you goes to our coaches who understand the importance of education and are extremely supportive of their students and futures," Klausner continued. "Thank you as well to our instructors on campus for their continued support along with the advisement team over in U-College who do great work with our student-athletes. The staff at the Karin L. Bone Athletics Study Center are a top-notch group and I am a firm believer that their guidance and relationships they foster with our student-athletes plays a critical role in the success we've had as a department. Our Redbirds seem to always rise to the occasion and this past semester's grades reflect their efforts."
More highlights include:
- Swimming & diving earned a new team GPA record by achieving a 3.76, marking back-to-back semesters of record-breaking performances for head coach Caitlin Hamilton and her program.
- Women's track & field also broke its team GPA record in back-to-back semesters, with a new high mark of 3.53 set this spring for head coach Jeff Bovee's MVC Championship team.
- Men's basketball has now broken its team GPA record in back-to-back semesters as well, as head coach Ryan Pedon's squad recorded a 3.16 in the classroom this spring.
- The Redbird softball program tied its GPA record from last fall with a 3.77 this spring under the leadership of first-year head coach Tina Kramos.
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