FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Rising above adversity as a constant factor in 2020, the Nova Southeastern Sharks student-athletes turned in another record-setting semester in the classroom. After producing a new program-high mark in the Winter semester, the Sharks delivered a 3.41 department-wide Grade Point Average for the best semester in program history. Heading into 2021, this also marks the 21st consecutive semester with a departmental GPA in excess of 3.00.
For the second straight Fall, every program – all 16 of the Sharks’ 16 NCAA Division II intercollegiate teams – finished the semester with a 3.00 GPA or higher. NSU boasts an impressive 79 percent of Sharks student-athletes individually exceeding a 3.00 and a historical-best 32 Sharks with a perfect 4.00 GPA. For their efforts, 84 were named to the Director’s List with a GPA over 3.80 – again the highest count to date, while 198 rose above a 3.25 to be named Scholar Athletes.
“Our NSU Shark student-athletes faced unprecedented challenges navigating the Fall 2020 semester due to the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape. But unprecedented challenges allow for unique opportunities,” Senior Woman Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services and Student-Athlete Support Rachel Fineberg said. “I could not be more proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for how they approached every hurdle. Achieving record-setting academic performances is a reflection of their ability to adapt, their resiliency, determination and their dedication to their studies. Shark student-athletes continue to be consummate champions in the classroom and their field of play.”
With their highest Fall team GPA on record, the women’s golf team led all programs with a 3.77 – coming off a season where they were ranked No. 1 nationally when the season was cut short. Breaking a five-semester streak for men’s pacesetter, the men’s golf team achieved a program-best 3.43 to edge out men’s cross country (3.41) and previous leader men’s soccer (3.36).
Aside from golf’s leadership among Fall women’s programs, several squads were right on their heels, with volleyball (team record) at 3.68, softball (highest on record) at 3.58, tennis at 3.57, women’s cross country (Fall semester team record) at 3.53 and both women’s swimming and women’s track (Fall semester team best) achieving a 3.49. On the men’s side, men’s basketball reached a program-best Fall semester to match men’s swimming with a 3.20 as a squad.
Another record-breaking Fall brings the count to nine consecutive semesters that NSU student-athletes have collectively exceeded a 3.20, with the Sharks setting their sights on a fifth consecutive year to achieve that standard during the upcoming Winter semester.
The Fall success maintains a 21-semester streak in excess of a 3.0 departmental GPA, as the Sharks have also maintained that annual standard for 18 consecutive years, dating back to 2002-03 – the first year of NCAA competition.
The Sharks are prepared for the challenges that lay ahead in 2021 and will start on the path to dominating them with the beginning of the Winter semester, set to begin at Nova Southeastern on Monday, January 4, 2021.
