Broncos excel in sports, academics

By Gabe Taylor

The Broncos are continuing to set records, but this time, they're being set in the classroom.

With an average grade point average of 3.11 across the board for the NCAA winter sports, the student-athletes are proving that they can have the drive to succeed in both academics and athletics.

The 3.11 cumulative GPA ranks as the highest recorded GPA in Santa Clara history. The previous high was 3.09 set during the Spring of 2007.

"It was a quarter where a lot of people improved by a head and shoulders," said Zoe Segnitz, an academic support manager.

Ten student-athletes finished winter quarter with a spotless 4.0 GPA.

Leading the pack was track star and recent Rhodes Scholar honoree Noelle Lopez.

"Just like in any quarter, they're always striving to do their best both on the court or field and in the classroom," said Jason Stock, an academic support manager. "This (winter) quarter just happened to be a great way of showing this."

Of all the winter sports, women's golf managed to pull away with the highest GPA with a 3.429 average.

Strong GPAs are not limited to just this past quarter when it comes to the Broncos' ability to perform academically.

In six of the last seven quarters, Santa Clara's student-athletes have tallied a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Tanya Schmidt, a freshman on the volleyball team, explained that the challenge actually worked to help her succeed in the classroom.

"I feel that playing volleyball here helps me focus my life," she said.

Schmidt noted that being a student-athlete is not always easy, especially when teams are on the road.

"You want to focus on your opponent and being with the team but that's just the life of a student-athlete," said the English major.

But the athletes have made a clear statement through academic achievement that barriers like this can be overcome.

According to Segnitz, Stock and Schmidt, the coaches are to be given much praise for helping motivate athletes academically as well.

"Our coach really emphasizes developing as people as well as players," said Schmidt. She also showed appreciation for her teammates.

"Being around other athletes who want to do well in the classroom is inspiring to me," she said.

Contact Gabe Taylor at gtaylor@scu.edu.