By Jett Johnson
Sports Editor
This year all Trevecca sports teams are averaging over a 3.0 GPA for the first time in history.
Emily Moore, head volleyball coach and associate athletic director, says academic excellence is a focus of the athletic department.
“I would say it’s one of the most, if not the most important, parts of being a student-athlete. One of my favorite things to see is my athletes saying they’re here because of volleyball and then their grades rise because of it. It helps me to know how motivated they are,” said Moore.
Moore is optimistic about not only her team reaching that mark, but the whole athletic department.
“It’s very encouraging. All of the coaching staff strives for that 3.0 and to see not only my team but all the other teams succeed in that area is very encouraging,” said Moore.
Moore has a few standards for her team to make sure they hit above that 3.0 mark.
“A few of my standards are probably similar to most coaches on campus. As an athlete I want you to never miss class, sit in the first two rows, and maintain a 3.0 GPA. For some athletes, a 3.0 is still not high enough for them and I push them to go higher. For some athletes, a 3.0 is really pushing their boundaries so that’s a few of my standards,” said Moore.
Holding each other accountable is something that Moore sees as crucial to keeping standards high.
“We actually just had a meeting where we discussed where we want our teams to be academically. It’s something that matters to all the coaches so we all try to agree to meet academic standards every year,” said Moore.
Student-athletes are also motivated to keep these high standards going such as junior men’s track & field athlete Lucas Baggott.
“At the end of the day, we attend this school to obtain our degrees. We know that we are preparing ourselves for our futures not only on the track but in the classroom as well. So there is a huge emphasis on not only having good grades to stay eligible but so that we can be successful beyond our athletic careers,” said Baggott.
Ben Carr, junior men’s track & field athlete, thinks academics are just as important as the competition itself.
“Firstly, athletes are not allowed to compete if they do not maintain certain academic standards. This is both an NCAA rule and a Trevecca rule. Trevecca athletes do a great job of remembering they are students before they are athletes for the most part. Our Athletic Director, Mark Elliott, always emphasizes the point of CSA (Christian-Scholar- Athlete). That is the order in which we are instructed to set our focus. First God, second school, and then athletics. This has been fundamental for most if not all, our teams,” said Carr.
Moore sees this school achievement as something that leads the sports department into a bright future.
“I think it’s very encouraging for the athletic program and it definitely sets us up for a bright future. It sets a new standard for the school and we’ll definitely look to improve further,” said Moore.
