Some of the fiercest competition Chico State's student-athletes have experienced over the past few years has come from within their own ranks. The battle for the department's Team GPA Championship Belts, awarded to the women's and men's teams with the highest combined GPA, has become an annual spectacle marked by skyrocketing academic successes and good-natured ribbing among the coaching staffs.
The 2019–20 academic year marked the fiercest competition yet. The department's 331 student-athletes combined for a GPA of 3.199 as 66% (219 of 331) posted a GPA of at least 3.0.
"I am so proud of our student-athletes. They have committed themselves to their academics as well as the sport they love. These results are clear evidence of this commitment," said Chico State Director of Athletics Anita Barker. "I'd also like to commend our coaches and support staff. The strength of our recruiting and the academic support our student-athletes receive contribute to this success. Finally, I'd like to acknowledge our campus partners, staff, and faculty, who support our student-athletes so spectacularly. Once again, the value of our Wildcat Family comes shining through!"
The women's track and field team took the women's championship belt while the men's cross country team claimed the men's belt for the first time.
"In a word: Impressive," said Jim Morgan, Professor from the College of Business and Chico State's Faculty Athletics Representative. "Reaching such a high level of achievement in the classroom speaks volumes about the focus and drive of our athletics administrators, coaching staff, and most importantly, over 300 student-athletes who we are all very proud of."
The women's track and field team was the cream of the crop in the classroom in 2019–20, combining for a department-best 3.561 GPA and dethroning the women's cross country team, which finished second in the department with a 3.480 GPA after claiming back-to-back GPA belts.
"I am proud of these women and how hard they work on and off the track," said head coach Robert Nooney. "Our team recognizes that winning championships isn't the only way to claim victory. Success in the classroom and degree progress is always a top priority. My hat is off to all Chico State student-athletes for such an impressive year academically. The canceled spring seasons were disappointing and the abrupt changes on campus knocked us down. Even still, Chico State Athletics showed our resilience and ability to get back up and push on for the win."
While the members of his women's cross country program were helping the track and field squad claim one team GPA title, Gary Towne's men's cross country crew was claiming its first team GPA title.
"It was a pleasant surprise. I knew our guys had improved, but the competition is tough and you never know how the other programs have done," Towne said. "It was a combination of some people who have been around for a while continuing to pick up steam, along with some really solid freshman performances that gave us a shot in the arm."
The department-wide GPA has now risen for at least seven consecutive years and annually surpasses the overall average campus GPA.
"Considering what they were dealing with this year with things going virtual for classes and seasons ending abruptly, it was nice to see all our athletes do a great job of stepping up to keep the ball rolling academically for the program," Towne said.
