By Glypie Grider
The University of Louisville honored 13 athletic teams that carried a 3.0 team GPA or better for the fall 2004 semester.
Representatives from each team were recognized during last week’s men’s basketball game against Marquette in Freedom Hall.
The women’s golf team boasted the highest team average with a 3.79 overall GPA. All seven members of the team were also named to the U of L Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for a 3.0 GPA or better.
The team members are Jenny Calkins, Cristina Gonzalez, Elly Leonard, Meghan Little, Katie Tewell, Adrienne White and Amy Yeates.
“One of our team goals every year is to be successful in the classroom, and the top GPA award is something the team strives for,” said women’s golf head coach Kelly Meyers.
“They are as competitive about academics as they are on the golf course. … We focus on the student athlete as a whole and really stress that the education you take from your college experience will open a lot of doors for you no matter what field you pursue when your playing career is over.”
The other teams recognized for their collective GPAs were baseball, field hockey, men’s cross country, men’s tennis, rowing, softball, volleyball, women’s cross country, women’s tennis, women’s soccer, women’s swimming and women’s track and field.
Senior Larry O’Bannon, a member of the men’s basketball team, was also named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He admitted that balancing athletics with academics is extremely challenging.
“My time is limited so I really have to focus on my studies whenever I can. I have great professors who are willing to work with me and spend extra tutor time with me,” O’Bannon said.
According to Louisville Sports Report, a weekly publication recapping U of L sports, O’Bannon was among only six men’s basketball players to make the list.
Two hundred seventy-five student athletes were named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the fall semester. The honor was created to encourage and recognize academic excellence.
