By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin athletic department shattered a school record with a 3.29 cumulative Grade Point Average for the 2020-21 academic year, setting a new benchmark in that category for the third straight semester.
Skyhawk Athletics began their record-setting run with a 3.26 GPA during the 2020 spring semester and followed that with a 3.28 GPA last fall. That success continued this spring as a total of 261 student-athletes posted at least a 3.0 GPA – 68 of whom recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA – to earn a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
“What a tremendous accomplishment to round out another great all-around year,” UT Martin athletic director Kurt McGuffin said. “Our student-athletes’ ability to adapt and excel academically continues to impress me. Our student-athletes, coaches and departmental academic staff deserve all of the credit.”
Since the program was created before the Fall 2019 semester, the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll has now highlighted 1,045 student-athletes who have boasted at least a 3.0 GPA. For the 2021 spring term, the Skyhawk football team led the way with 39 selections and was closely followed by equestrian (34), cross country/track and field (30), baseball (29) and rodeo (27).
The 68 student-athletes with unblemished 4.0 GPA’s this spring are the most since the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll was established. A total of 13 different sports programs produced at least one 4.0 GPA student-athlete last semester, paced by the UT Martin baseball team (11).
Overall, 11 Skyhawk athletic programs dialed up at least a 3.0 team GPA while no UT Martin sport came away with less than a 2.8 GPA for the semester. The Skyhawk golf team’s 3.69 GPA barely edged out tennis (3.68) for the highest of any UT Martin squad while volleyball/beach volleyball (3.56) also came in above the 3.5 barrier.
Below is a list of UT Martin Athletic Director’s Honor Roll recipients for the Spring 2021 semester, sorted by sport. Those listed in bold indicates a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Football (39): Alexander Andre, Mitchell Appleton, John Bachus III, Cru Birdyshaw, Ethan Boyd, Ryan Clark, Aries Davis, Giovanni Davis, Tyler Denson, Kareem Dinzey, Daylan Dotson, Carson Evans, Brandon Floyd, Greg Forrester, Isaiah Gibbs, Wyatt Gilbert, Kendrick Gillespie, David Green, Korbin Harmon, Chris Jackson, Crishun Jackson, Jarious Johnson, Larry Johnson, Hunter Kendall, Deray Lawrence, Jack Lucas, Chris McAbee, Malcolm Miller, Kobe Okeke, Austin Pickett, Campbell Puckett, Cade Richards, Tevin Shipp, Tanner Snyder, Tyson Strickland, Shamari Weir, Donnell Williams, Jake Willis, Takeem Young.
Equestrian (34): Mahalia Alascio, Tyler Anderson, Natalie Armstrong, Tess Baumann, Erin Bledsoe, Brooke Bradley, Abi Clark, Renee Conklin, Rachel Davis, Lucy Eier, Julia Gilman, Abbie Hopkins, Sydney Hott, Megan Huber, Shelby Jackson, Haley Kane, Ava Laplante, Maggie Malone, Lizzy McCrady, Hannah McDonald, Kyra Petty, Emmy Reed, Quinn Reed, Grace Rogers, Casey Ruggiero, Emma Schaefer, Katelyn Schultz, Keely Seiter, Erica Snyder, Olivia Stour, Hallie Thomas, Bridget Vieau, Devon Woods, Grace York.
Cross Country/Track and Field (30): Annie Amundsen, John Collin Askew, Lenny Baumann, Brent Borden, Andre Brown, Cole Davis, Tim Dye, Ryan Ford, Brady Fry, John Green, Henry Griffin, Marquerious Hayes, Victor Kemboi, Austin Knight, Timeria McCullough, Luke McNair, Maggie Medley, Samantha Moreno, Cameron Murrell, Oisin O’Gailin, Will Oglesby, Joe Patterson, George Payne, Chance Rone, Megan Roth, Taylor Roy, Alex Schell, Corey Smith, Daniel Smith, Keilla Tud.
Baseball (29): Alec Beaman, Drew Bell, Cameron Brady, Winston Cannon, Hayden Cooper, Jack Culumovic, Blake Daniels, Sean Dixson, Billy Edwards, Sam Folks, Thomas Fullerton, Christian Hall, Andy Horne, David Hussey, Ryan Insco, Baylor Jones, Preston Jones, Wil LaFollette, Warren Lee, Andruw McKenzie, Chance Merithew, Jefferey O’Doherty, Boston Smith, Grayden Stauffer, Eric Steensma, Noah Thigpen, Ethan Whitley, Nick Wohlbold, Houston Wright.
Rodeo (27): Casey Allen, Abbie Austin, Bailey Barrett, Ryon Belk, Stetson Bierman, Grace Bryant, Holli Covey, Allison Cratin, Weston Hamilton, Sarah Hawk, Lauren Heck, Cody Hogan, Shayne Mallory, Madison McFall, Langlee Morrison, Justin Sailors, Kailey Schmidt, Anna Scott, Carson Stroup, Mollie Stroup, Kaitlyn Thompson, Chase Thrasher, Katelyn Van Holten, Robbie Van Holten, Cole Walker, Zane White, Skylar Windsor.
Soccer (20): Alice Adams, Gracie Aric, Hendrikje Baurmann, Skylar Boes, Maria Castaldo, Kamryn Chappell, Megan Drake, Blare Gerido, Morgan Glaenzer, Jaden Hildreth, Catey Hunt, Lotte Koot, Kiarnie Latham, Sophia Mankowski, Ryann Mushkin, Bella Roberts, Jacalyn Schubring, Isabelle Thibault, Courtney Turner, Emely van der Vliet.
Softball (19): Emily Alexander, Aalia Bivens, Anna Blanton, Emily Brown, Bryleigh Carneal, Paige Clark, Kaci Fuller, Erin Gallagher, Kenna Garst, Emily Gilstrap, Chelsey Gore, Alexis Groet, Kaitlyn Kelley, Seeley Layne, Maddi Long, Gracie Lusk, Kallie Pickens, Hannah Ridolfi, Shyanne Sheffield.
Volleyball/Beach Volleyball (15): Kayla Carrell, Addison Conley, Kenzie Hinshaw, Lucy Kaufman, Baillie Kearns, Kayla Long, Kambree Lucas, Olivia Lucia, Zoe Merriweather, Dylan Mott, Haeleigh Paulino, Hannah Phillips, Karen Scanlon, Addy Vaughn, Logan Wallick.
Golf (12): Mason Chandler, Tate Chumley, Peyton Dix, Bryson Morrell, Ethan Ray, Ross Redmont, Luke Smith, Jack Story, Jackson Twerdahl, Jacob Uehlein, Nick Wolf, Jonathan Xoinis.
Women’s Basketball (12): Demi Burdick, Emma Davis, Kyannah Grant, Damiah Griffin, Sade’ Hudson, Raegan Johnson, Haley Nichols, Chelsey Perry, Paige Pipkin, Macy Rippy, Seygan Robins, Maddie Waldrop.
Cheer/Pom Squad (10): Logan Alfano-Webb, Annaleigh Armstrong, Taylor-Rae Brundige, Audri Hill, Destinee Humphrey, Kirsten Jolly, Peyton Ross, Shaynee Syler, Kiasa Turner, Taylor Walls.
Tennis (7): Sina Albersmeier, Amelia Campbell, Jillian Niedzialowski, Ariadna Ondo, Daphne Pratt, Mizuki Sakurai, Jule Streif.
Rifle (5): Abigail Donald, Nick Fares, Celia Gelpey, Amanda Mayo, Rachel Mills.
Men’s Basketball (2): Ajani Kennedy, Hannes Polla.
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information