By Ryne Rickman
MARTIN, Tenn. – A total of 285 University of Tennessee at Martin student-athletes earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll during the Spring 2020 semester, leading to a departmental 3.26 Grade Point Average, which stands as the best academic semester in school history.
Established last fall, the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll features any Skyhawk student-athlete who registered at least a 3.0 GPA. The 285 student-athletes for the spring is an increase from the 219 UT Martin student-athletes who received that accolade as part of the Fall 2019 semester. The Skyhawk cross country/track and field and rodeo programs each led the way with 39 honorees apiece this spring with equestrian (38) and football (38) following closely behind.
A total of 65 student-athletes achieved perfect 4.0 GPA’s in the spring, led by 14 members of the equestrian squad. Each of UT Martin’s 13 sports produced at least one student-athlete with an unblemished 4.0 GPA.
All in all, 12 Skyhawk athletic programs accumulated at least a 3.0 GPA this past semester. The golf team’s 3.75 GPA was the highest of any UT Martin squad during the spring while tennis (3.68), volleyball (3.66), soccer (3.60), softball (3.53) and equestrian (3.50) each sported GPA’s at 3.5 or above.
“We are all so proud of our student-athletes for taking on this challenge during an unusual semester,” Skyhawk athletic director Kurt McGuffin said. “A large portion of the spring was done online, but our student-athletes stayed focused and rose to the occasion. We have a terrific academic support services team who deserves a lot of credit. We are proud to claim the most student-athletes of any school in the Ohio Valley Conference, and to have a 3.12 cumulative GPA for the 2019-20 academic year speaks volumes about our department’s commitment to excellence.”
Following are the UT Martin Athletic Director’s Honor Roll Rodeo and Equestrian recipients for the Spring 2020 semester. Those listed in bold italics indicates a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Rodeo (39): Casey Allen, Abbie Austin, Jasmin Bakri, Bailey Barrett, Ryon Belk, Stetson Bierman, Jayci Braudrick, Summer Conley, Holli Covey, Jake Glass, Hunter Green, Robert Haley, Weston Hamilton, Wyatt Hart, Sarah Hawk, Lauren Heck, Cody Hogan, Jesse Keysaer, Konner Knop, Erin Mahoney, Shayne Mallory, Will McCraw, Madison McFall, Spencer Meyer, Ross Mitchell, Ridge Palmer, Cameron Pruett, Justin Sailors, Kailey Schmidt, Anna Scott, Bryce Sifford, Jack Smithson, Savannah Stanley, Carson Stroup, Mollie Stroup, Hunter Styles, Chase Thrasher, Katelyn Van Holten, Skylar Windsor.
Equestrian (38): Mahalia Alascio, Tyler Anderson, Natalie Armstrong, Tess Baumann, Paige Benson, Erin Bledsoe, Jade Bleskey, Brooke Bradley, Lucy Eier, Julia Gilman, Abbie Hopkins, Megan Huber, Shelby Jackson, Haley Kane, Kelby Kane, Sarah Kent, Randi LaChance, Lizzy McCrady, Hannah McDonald, Noel Meadows, Savannah Metheny, Kenzie Mezrah, Chloe Murt, Maddie Mykolaitis, Anna Ordonio, Mackenzie Palmer, Johnie Parker, Kyra Petty, Quinn Reed, Grace Rogers, Casey Ruggiero, Grace Salmon, Katelyn Schultz, Keely Seiter, Erica Snyder, Hallie Thomas, Devon Woods, Grace York.
