Marshall University Athletics
Herd Tennis, Track and Field Programs Excel in the Classroom
5/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- The Marshall University tennis and outdoor women's track programs have recorded a perfect score of 1000 on the NCAA's Division I Academic Progress Rate scale.
The latest perfect score was for the 2013-14 school year. The Thundering Herd's multiyear rate of a perfect 1000 -- based upon a four-year standard (2010-11 through 2013-14) -- was documented and recognized Wednesday by the NCAA among teams ranked in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.
The four-year APR perspective for the two programs covers the progress for all student-athletes over that span in those programs. John Mercer's Herd tennis program has received NCAA public recognition status for five consecutive years, while Jeff Small's program became the first men's or women's C-USA track and field team, indoor or outdoor, to earn the status since the 2009-10 school year.
"Our commitment to academics is second to none, as shown by our tennis and track programs," said Marshall Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick. "Our student-athletes, coaches and team of academic advisors in the Buck Harless Student-Athlete Program deserve all the credit for a job well done."
A combined 14 Herd tennis and track athletes made the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll this year, which recognizes those with cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 or higher. Of those, Anne Gulsrud (tennis), Rachel Morales (tennis), Andrea Chidester (track and field), Alanna Dawkins (track and field) and Isabelle Rogner (track and field) were recognized with the C-USA Academic Medal, which goes to student-athletes with a GPA of 3.75 or better.
The first APR measurement by the NCAA was for the 2004-05 school year. Only 25 C-USA teams from 2013-14 received the distinction.
Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) as part of the overall Division I academic reform effort.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.
Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced May 27.
Players Mentioned
