Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns student-athletes set a school record by achieving a combined 2.964 grade point average for Fall 2012, led by 24 student-athletes who earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Slightly more than 50 percent of the 374 student-athletes achieved at least a 3.0 GPA for the fall term. It was the fifth straight semester that Louisiana student-athletes had a combined GPA above 2.80. The previous record of 2.880 was set for the Spring 2011 term.
The numbers were compiled by the UL Lafayette Student-Athlete Academic Center, which coordinates the academic progress of all Cajun student-athletes. The center has tracked student-athletes academic performance since 1982.
Forty-two student-athletes completed their degree requirements during the Fall 2012 term and graduated in December, including softball’s Megan Waterman, who was honored during Commencement as the Outstanding Graduate in the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
“Our student-athletes never fail to amaze me in what they are able to accomplish both on and off the court,” Scott Farmer, Louisiana director of Athletics, said. “When you consider the time and effort that they put into representing the University at the highest level of collegiate competition, their accomplishments in the classroom are astounding.
“The academic mission of the department has always been to provide our student-athletes with the support needed to succeed, both in competition and in everyday life.”
Men’s tennis led all sports with a 3.434 GPA for the Fall 2012 semester. Ten of its 16 student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA. Carl Alberton and Brandon Farine each posted a 4.0 GPA.
Seven of the university’s 16 sports also achieved a 3.0 team GPA or better:
• volleyball, 3.401;
• baseball, 3.303;
• golf, 3.241;
• women’s cross country, 3.206;
• men’s cross country, 3.137;
• women’s tennis, 3.082; and
• softball, 3.069.
It was the sixth straight semester that the women’s tennis team had a 3.0 or better. That’s the longest active streak. Men's tennis and volleyball each have the next longest active streaks, with five each.
Three teams set school records for their respective sports.
Baseball, which posted a 2.886 GPA last spring, jumped to 3.295 during the fall to rank third among the Cajun teams.
Men’s golf continued its academic upswing, setting a team record with a 3.241 GPA, its third straight semester above a 3.0.
The football team continued to perform well in the classroom, posting a 2.763 GPA to set the team record for the third time in four semesters under the direction of head coach Mark Hudspeth.
The following student-athletes each had a 4.0 GPA:
• baseball, Ryan Leonards, Robert Staten and Nicolas Zaunbrecher;
• soccer, Maggie Golz, Ashley Gussoni and Claire Steward;
• volleyball, Kristen Armstrong, Abby Filce and Mandi Gavin;
• women’s basketball, Megan Whittaker;
• football, John Broussard and Riley Saunders;
• golf, Kelsey Angelle and Thomas Strandemo;
• softball, Shellie Landry and Megan Waterman;
• women’s tennis, Juliette Clement and Sandra Ahlqvist;
• women’s track, Anna Devitt and Amber Laurent; and
• men’s track, Corbett Ourso.
Contact: communications@louisiana.edu