The Valparaiso University Athletic Department continued its tradition of excellence in the classroom during the 2020 spring semester as student-athletes enjoyed a particularly strong term of academic success.
Valpo student-athletes combined for a 3.45 term grade point average and own a 3.25 cumulative GPA. During the spring 2020 semester, an impressive total of 46 student-athletes earned perfect 4.0 GPAs, 186 boasted a 3.5 or above and 288 posted a GPA of 3.0 or better.
In addition, 10 student-athletes possess a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA, 125 own a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above and 250 stand at 3.0 or better. Numerous teams thrived in the classroom this spring, with 12 earning a team GPA of 3.5 or better and 16 teams accruing a 3.2 or above.
As announced last month when the NCAA released its most recent Academic Progress Rate (APR) data, five Valpo programs achieved perfect scores of 1000 with 12 teams posting scores of 990 or better. Men’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s cross country, women’s golf and women’s tennis were all recognized with perfect APR scores. Women’s soccer (998), men’s track & field (996), women’s basketball (995), volleyball (995), softball (993), bowling (993) and women’s swimming (993) all had scores of 990 or better.
Valpo led the Missouri Valley Conference in NCAA Public Recognition Awards with six. The men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s tennis and men’s track & field programs were all honored for their high achievement in the classroom this year. The award is presented to teams that have an NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate in the top 10 percent of all teams in their respective sport. The calculation of APR tracks the academic progress of each student-athlete and includes eligibility, retention and graduation.
The department recognized 132 student-athletes with Presidential Academic Honors for their work in the classroom, led by Laurel Award winner Katherine Germann (Cincinnati, Ohio / Finneytown),a member of the women’s cross country and track & field programs who graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA as a triple major. Valpo had a pair of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans this year in baseball’s Christian Barczi (Naperville, Ill. / Naperville North) and men’s soccer’s Dylan Waugaman (Houston, Texas / Friendswood [Oregon State]), with Germann also up for consideration for women’s cross country/track & field All-America honors that will be announced later this month. Barczi was a member of the Academic All-America Third Team, while Waugaman was one of 11 men’s soccer players nationally to garner first-team status thanks to his 3.99 GPA in accounting.
In addition, men’s cross country and track & field senior Alexander Bruno (Bloomington, Ill. / University) was recognized as the MVC Men’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Valpo had 26 student-athletes earn spots on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team, Academic All-PFL squad or the Summit League Academic All-League Team. Six teams earned academic recognition from their respective coaches’ associations.
