Leatherneck Athletics Sets Record for Most Students With a 3.0 GPA

Student-athletes set new record with 68 percent earning a 3.0 GPA or better in Spring 2017, department's 3.16 GPA second-best on record.

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois Athletics set a new department record as 68 percent of the student-athletes in Spring 2017 semester earned a 3.0 or higher grade point average. The 3.16 cumulative GPA edges out the Fall 2016 and Fall 2009 average as the second-highest semester grade point in Leatherneck Athletics history.

The 68 percent above a 3.0 GPA surpassed last fall's previous average of 64 percent. This spring's 3.16 fell just shy of the Spring 2010 GPA of 3.19 for the semester. For the 20th consecutive semester, Western's student-athletes' GPA surpassed the University's GPA (3.036).

Leatherneck Football posted its highest GPA on record, turning in a 3.09 during the Spring semester.

Women's Golf posted the highest GPA of any sports team, recording a 3.69 GPA, followed by Volleyball (3.59) and Women's Tennis (3.53, seventh straight semester above a 3.40) also above a 3.50. Men's Golf (3.12), Men's Soccer (3.11) and Football had the top three GPAs on the men's side.

"The steady rise of the department's cumulative GPA the past few years is, first and foremost, a testament to the commitment of our student-athletes to succeed in the classroom with the same intensity as they pursue their athletic endeavors. It's also a reflection of the collective approach among our head coaches, staff, and the university community that supports our students' success," said Director of Athletics Matt Tanney. "We're proud of all of our teams, including the football program, which earned its highest ever GPA on record. We'll continue to build on those successes as we prepare for the 2017-2018 academic year."

In all, 231 of the 342 student-athletes this spring earned a 3.0 or higher, and of those 101 (30 percent) earned Honors distinction with a 3.60 or better. Thirty-four of the student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA. Fifteen of the 17 sports programs (men's and women's indoor/outdoor track and field combined as one program each) finished at 3.0 or higher as a team for the semester.

Student-Athletes with 4.0 GPA in Spring 2017
Payton Abbott (Softball)
Mary Anderson (Women's Soccer)
Ben Arnold (Football)
Laura Ballesteros (Women's Tennis)
Riggs Baxter (Football)
Nicole Beebe (Women's Track)
Maria Bessmertnaya (Women's Tennis)
Eli Blasi (Men's Soccer)
Amy Borgstede (Women's Swimming)
Bo Brasseur (Women's Track and Field)
Jenna Bryan (Volleyball)
Mallory Boyle (Women's Basketball)
Amadeo Carbo (Men's Soccer)
Javin Drake (Baseball)
Hailey Duwa (Softball)
Michelle Farrow (Women's Basketball)
Josh Franke (Football)
Trev Hadachek (Football)
Brady Hunt (Men's Track and Field)
Jacob Judd (Football)
Grant Kaiser (Men's Track and Field)
Jamison Kozar (Men's Soccer)
Alex Krehbiel (Women's Golf)
Amanda Manton (Softball)
Cary Milanes (Women's Tennis)
Luke Otto (Football)
Fernando Pacheco (Men's Soccer)
Ines Palmiero Herrera (Women's Soccer)
Brady Shows (Men's Track and Field)
Mary Street (Women's Soccer)
Brett Taylor (Football)
Joe Turk (Football)
Mike Viti (Football)
Taylor Winkel (Women's Swimming)

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Players Mentioned

#81 Ben Arnold: TE; 6' 5"; Freshman; Webster Groves / Western Michigan

#4 Trev Hadachek: DB; 5' 11"; Junior; Union

#31 Luke Otto: P/K; 5' 11"; Junior; University

#11 Jenna Bryan: OH; 5' 10"; Freshman; Illini West

#34 Payton Abbott: P/IF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R

#5 Hailey Duwa: IF; 5' 10"; Sophomore; L/R

#21 Amanda Manton: C; 5' 5"; Senior; L/R

Maria Bessmertnaya: Junior; Akron

Alex Krehbiel: Junior; Central Lee

#10 Mallory Boyle: G; 5' 11"; Senior; North Mahaska

#22 Michelle Farrow: G; 5' 10"; Junior; Waukesha West

Nicole Beebe: DISTANCE; Freshman; Canton

Players Mentioned

#81 Ben Arnold
: 6' 5"; Freshman; Webster Groves / Western Michigan
: TE

#4 Trev Hadachek
: 5' 11"; Junior; Union
: DB

#31 Luke Otto
: 5' 11"; Junior; University
: P/K

#11 Jenna Bryan
: 5' 10"; Freshman; Illini West
: OH

#34 Payton Abbott
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/IF

#5 Hailey Duwa
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; L/R
: IF

#21 Amanda Manton
: 5' 5"; Senior; L/R
: C

Maria Bessmertnaya
: Junior; Akron

Alex Krehbiel
: Junior; Central Lee

#10 Mallory Boyle
: 5' 11"; Senior; North Mahaska
: G

#22 Michelle Farrow
: 5' 10"; Junior; Waukesha West
: G

Nicole Beebe
: Freshman; Canton
: DISTANCE