Trojans set academic records for 2019 fall semester
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s commitment to Graduating Champions continued in the fall 2019 semester as Trojan student-athletes boasted a department grade point average of 3.281. It marks the 15th-straight semester Little Rock student-athletes have notched a GPA of 3.0 or better as eight programs accomplished the feat during their competition seasons.
Nine of Little Rock’s 11 intercollegiate athletic programs finished the Fall 2019 semester with a 3.0 team GPA or higher, led by women’s golf’s program-best 3.833 during their fall competition schedule. Volleyball posted a 3.608 GPA while swimming and diving (3.545) and soccer (3.538) each finished above a 3.5.
Women’s track and field and cross country notched a 3.312 mark as a team, followed by men’s golf’s 3.25, baseball’s 3.231. Wrestling checked in for the first time as a compete team with a 3.17 GPA with men’s track and field and cross country rounding out the list with a 3.117.
Individually, 177 Trojan student-athletes finished the fall semester with a GPA of 3.0 or better, setting a new department record for a single semester. Baseball and swimming and diving led the way with 26 student-athletes on their respective teams above a 3.0, followed by soccer (24), women’s track and field/cross country (23), wrestling (20), and men’s track and field/cross country (19).
Eight programs saw at least 70 percent of its active roster reach the 3.0 mark, including every student-athlete on both the women’s golf and volleyball rosters. Soccer saw 88.9 percent of its student-athletes achieve the mark, followed by swimming and diving (81.3%), baseball (74.3%), wrestling (74.1%), men’s track and field/cross country (70.4%) and women’s track and field/cross country (70%).
Additionally, 51 Trojan student-athletes had a perfect fall semester, finishing with a 4.0 GPA.
The academic honors continued what has become a major focus for Trojan athletics. Over the past year, six different Trojan athletic programs earned academic recognition by their respective national organizations while a handful of Little Rock student-athletes achieved individual academic recognition.
Trojan student-athletes who earned a 4.0 GPA for the fall 2019 semester include:
Baseball (6): Tucker Childers, Tim Dixon, Kale Emshoff, Josh Nowak, Houston Parker, Gage Trahan
Men’s Basketball (3): Sam Dunkum, Ryan Pippins, Jovan Stulic
Women’s Basketball (2): Ronjanae DeGray, Nicole Hemphill
Men’s Golf (2): Anton Albers, Danial Durisic
Women’s Golf (4): Malena Austerslaatt, Tilde Bocker, Kellie Gachaga, Thea Wakeford-Wesmann
Soccer (6): Bergros Asgeirsdottir, Fanney Einarsdottir, Samantha Rolka, Liesa Seifert, Kenedie St. Mary, Hilma Svalander
Swimming and Diving (9): Taylor Baldacci, KateLin Carsrud, Fernanda Gamez, Avery McLean, Brianna Riding, Palmer Ristroph, Katelyn White, Charis Won, Lea Zengerling
Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country (2): Caleb Chevis, Teylen Patterson
Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country (10): Shelby Dunlap, Mia Dunning, Amanda Gordon, Lauren Hurrell, Rondaishia McNeal, Hunter Paul-Jones, Tricia Pierce, Allison Risius, Alison Stephens, Jaelyn Tucker
Volleyball (3): Diana Giordani, Annelise Sampson, Nathalia Vigineski
Wrestling (4): Paul Bianchi, Aidan Campbell, Jaylen Carson, Miles Santiago
