Central Michigan University Athletics
Women's Soccer Team Lands Academic Honor
2/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Feb. 26, 2004
MOUNT PLEASANT - The Central Michigan University women's soccer team has been honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for its academic performance during the 2002-03 school year.
This marks the fifth time that the NSCAA has honored the six-year-old CMU soccer program with the College Team Academic Award.
The Chippewas turned in a team grade point average of 3.32 and were one of 266 women's college soccer teams to turn in a 3.0 or better. CMU was also one of eight Mid-American Conference schools to be honored. Only MAC rivals Ball State (3.43), Toledo (3.42), and Eastern Michigan (3.34) turned in higher averages while Marshall also turned in a 3.32 average.
"We try to recruit the student-athlete who strives for excellence in all areas of life," head coach Tony DiTucci said. "Our team is a group of student-athletes who set high standards for themselves. They don't settle for mediocrity but endeavor to put forth their best academic performance. I am extremely proud of our team.
"This is also a credit to our outstanding academic department that gives our athletes the tools they need to be successful."
Half of the women's soccer team boast a 3.5 GPA or better while 77 percent own a 3.0 or better. In fact, the 3.32 team average is third among the 16 teams on campus.
Academic success is no stranger to the women's soccer team or the CMU athletics department. The Chippewas have won the prestigious Mid-American Conference Academic Achievement award in six of the last seven years. The award is given to the MAC school with the highest grade-point average among its student-athletes. CMU won the award outright in 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, and 2002-03, sharing it with Ball State in 1996-97.
