Dec. 18, 2009

DeKALB, Ill. - The streak goes on.

For the ninth straight semester, Northern Illinois student-athletes posted a cumulative grade point average above 3.0 as the Fall 2009 GPA came in at 3.054, NIU Senior Associate Athletic Director Francine St. Clair announced Friday.

Ten Huskie teams came in with cumulative GPAs above the 3.0 mark following the fall semester, up from eight last spring. The volleyball team, the top Huskie squad overall in terms of cumulative grade point average, recorded its highest GPA in school history with a 3.445 mark. Also earning its best cumulative mark ever was the NIU men's basketball team which raised its average to 2.654.

"It never gets old to get the news that our student-athletes have once again combined for a 3.0 grade point average," said NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Jeff Compher. "This is an amazing record of academic success that now dates back nearly five years. Congratulations to the student-athletes, our coaches, and especially the staff of the Student-Athlete Academic Support Services (SAASS) unit. On a daily basis, they are working to help our student-athletes reach their academic goals."

The Huskie volleyball claimed the team cumulative GPA title for the third consecutive semester and the fourth time in the last five terms, and also had the highest semester grade point average of any NIU team with a 3.421. Gymnastics ranked second in cumulative GPA at 3.310, followed by women's cross country (3.269), women's soccer (3.252) and men's golf (3.166), the top mark by a men's team. The next five teams, each of which enter 2010 with a cumulative GPA above 3.0, were softball (3.163), women's golf (3.161), women's tennis (3.112), women's basketball (3.049) and women's track and field (3.039).

For the fall semester, women's tennis ranked second behind only volleyball in semester grade point average with a 3.401, followed by gymnastics (3.329) and women's soccer (3.313).

"We continue to be extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that Huskie student-athletes bring to the classroom," said St. Clair. "The 3.0 cumulative GPA posted by our student-athletes also demonstrates their commitment to keeping this impressive streak going."

Thirteen Northern Illinois student-athletes posted a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the fall and remain perfect for their academic careers. That list is topped by men's soccer senior Kyle Knotek and fellow upperclass students Kaylee Walters (women's track and field), and Anne Wyer (women's soccer). In all, women's track and field (four), football (two), and men's (two) and women's soccer (two) have multiple students with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, while wrestling, volleyball and men's golf boast one 4.0 student-athlete each.

In all, 222 NIU student-athletes own a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above following the fall term, led by 46 members of the Huskie football team. Carrie Barker's women's soccer team includes 24 3.0 student-athletes, while women's track and field has 22 in the group. Softball, volleyball and wrestling had 14 individuals reach the 3.0 mark with gymnastics and men's soccer just behind at 13.

The complete list of 4.0 student-athletes follows. The names of NIU's 3.0 student-athletes will be added in January.

Zach Benzio, Wrestling
Samantha Grams, Volleyball
Paul Hammerschmidt, Men's Golf
Kaylee Heller, Women's Soccer
Nabal Jefferson, Football
Kyle Knotek, Men's Soccer
Mike Mascitti, Men's Soccer
Jenelle McCalla, Women's Track & Field
Ryan Neir, Football
Courtney Oldenburg, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Jenner Sio, Women's Track & Field
Kaylee Walters, Women's Track & Field
Anne Wyer, Women's Soccer

-- NIU --

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