Clemson Student-Athlete Academic Report for 2011 Spring Semester Released

June 3, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Seven athletic teams recorded GPAs of 3.0 or better and 51 percent of the student-athletes made the academic honor roll, according to data for the 2011 spring semester released by the Clemson University Office of Institutional Research.

The overall GPA of Clemson’s athletic teams was a 2.90 figure, marking the third straight spring with at least a 2.9 cumulative GPA. A total of 227 of Clemson’s 441 student-athletes in the study were named to the academic honor roll, including 94 on the Dean’s List.

“We are very pleased with the spring grade reports,” said Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips. “It shows the continued emphasis our coaches are placing on academics. Vickery Hall, under the leadership of Becky Bowman and her staff, has done a wonderful job.

“Furthermore, when coupled with our athletic success and the fact that we have contributed over 5,000 hours of service to the community this year, that speaks volumes to the quality of our student-athletes at Clemson.”

The women’s swimming & diving program had the best GPA of any athletic team, and the highest GPA in its history. Christopher Ip’s squad compiled a 3.59 GPA and placed six student-athletes alone on the President’s List, more than any other athletic team at Clemson. The men’s swimming & diving team, which finished 25th at the NCAA Championships, had 15 members on the academic honor roll, including All-American relay standouts Chris Dart and Chris Reinke.

The men’s soccer team earned a 3.06 GPA for the spring semester, which was the highest mark among the male sports. The men’s soccer team has had the highest GPA among male sports for the last six spring semesters. Of the 21 players on the roster for Head Coach Mike Noonan’s team, 13 made the honor roll for the spring semester. Tiger soccer player Keegan Priest, who graduated in just three years, is now in the Clemson MBA program.

The Tiger baseball team, which begins NCAA Tournament play Friday against Sacred Heart, had its best semester GPA since the fall of 2008 with a 2.93 mark. Several position starters and members of the pitching rotation were named to the honor roll, including ACC Player-of-the-Year and first-team All-American Brad Miller.

The women’s track & field team had a 3.22 GPA. Twenty-three members of the ACC outdoor championship team were named to the academic honor roll, including individual conference champions Kim Ruck and Liane Weber. Also named to the honor roll were Jasmine Brunson, Monique Gracia, Alyssa Kulik, Patricia Mamona and Lauren Terstappen, each of whom will compete next week in Des Moines, IA at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Jolene Hoover’s volleyball team posted its best GPA since the spring of 2007 with a 3.14 semester. Seven members of the squad were named to the academic honor roll, including starters Natalie Patzin and Alexa Rand, who were each named to the President’s List.

The women’s tennis program, fresh off a No. 14 final ITA ranking and fifth straight appearance in the Sweet 16, recorded a 3.03 team GPA for the spring. Freshman Maria Belaya was named to the Dean’s List for Nancy Harris’ team.

Clemson’s rowing program had a 3.03 team GPA for the spring semester. Six members of the ACC Crew-of-the-Year – the First Varsity 8+ boat – were named to the honor roll.

The women’s basketball team, under the direction of first-year Head Coach Itoro Coleman, had a 2.81 GPA for the spring semester. It was that program’s best team GPA since the 2007 spring semester. Sthefany Thomas, Clemson’s leading scorer this past season and a May graduate, made the Dean’s List. Men’s basketball starters Tanner Smith and Andre Young made the academic honor roll as well.

Clemson football compiled a 2.45 team GPA for the spring. Twenty-six members of Dabo Swinney’s 2010 team were named to the academic honor roll, including offensive line starters Mason Cloy, Dalton Freeman and Antoine McClain. Cloy was a President’s List selection, while Freeman was named to the Dean’s List.

2011 Spring Honor Roll List