When it comes to being a student athlete at Union, athletes are not only held to the highest standard in athletic performance but they are also held to the highest standard in academia.
Three of Union’s athletic teams proved that they not only excel as a team athletically but also in the classroom, which is not an easy feat.
Union’s women’s soccer team and the men’s and women’s cross country teams met the minimum 3.4 grade-point average for their combined team to make the National Christian College Athletic Association 2013 Fall Scholar team list.
“I think some coaches feel like [the athletes] can be good academically or athletically, we are trying to do well in both areas, if at all possible,” said Gary Johnson, head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country team.
Student athletes are expected to attend all classes, every practice and every game or tournament, some of which require extensive travel times, and still keep their grades above a 2.5 with a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Johnson has total faith in both his teams to be academically sound.
“I say this humbly, but I am not surprised when our team does well academically because we are built that way,” said Johnson. “We purposely recruit students who will contribute to the team academically, spiritually and athletically.”
Only 21 schools achieved this honor.
“It was an unexpected honor to have the highest GPA in the country for fall sports in the NCCAA,” Johnson continued. “Our girls work very hard in all areas of their lives and it was nice to be honored with the top GPA and a top 4 finish at the national meet.”
Shorter University, which is quickly becoming a Union rival in the Gulf South conference, was only in front of Union in the list by one team, which includes just four teams.