Jan. 9, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois student-athletes followed a record-setting semester on the fields of play with a record-setting performance in the classroom this fall as NIU student-athletes combined to post a school record 3.074 cumulative grade point average.

The 3.074 G.P.A. surpasses the record 3.036 cumulative mark compiled by NIU student-athletes last spring as G.P.A.'s rose for the second straight semester.

"To be certain, I am extremely pleased that our student-athletes continued to raise the bar academically this semester," said NIU Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Jim Phillips. "In light of the success our teams enjoyed on the field this fall, these academic accomplishments are even more impressive and reflect the commitment of these extremely talented young people to excel as both students and as athletes. In addition, our coaches and the staff of the Student-Athlete Academic Support Services unit in the Provost's Office have been essential to our continuing efforts to raise academic standards and ensure that each and every one of these student-athletes achieves the ultimate goal of graduation."

A record 11 of NIU's 16 programs recorded team grade point averages of 3.0 or higher this fall, led once again by the women's gymnastics team with a semester mark of 3.377. The gymnasts were closely followed by women's soccer, which compiled a 3.339 semester G.P.A., men's tennis (3.327) - the leaders among seven Huskie men's teams - and women's basketball (3.316). Also above the 3.0 standard are Northern's women's cross country (3.263), men's golf (3.208), women's tennis (3.201), softball (3.186), women's golf (3.181), and volleyball (3.180) programs. Nearly as impressive is the fact that every NIU team now owns a cumulative grade point average above 2.6.

In addition to leading the way this semester, gymnastics continues to own the highest cumulative team G.P.A. at 3.351, but are followed closely by women's cross country (3.347), women's basketball (3.312) and women's soccer (3.294).

Individually, 207 Northern Illinois student-athletes compiled a semester G.P.A. of 3.0 or better this fall, with 25 individuals representing 11 different programs coming in with a perfect 4.0 mark for the term. Over 100 NIU student-athletes posted a grade point average of 3.5 or above this fall.

In terms of numbers, football had the highest number of 3.0s with 51 players - nearly half of the roster - attaining at least a "B" average in the fall. The football team also counted seven December 2006 graduates on its Poinsettia Bowl roster. Women's soccer and women's track and field were next with 19 3.0 student-athletes each, followed by gymnastics (17), men's soccer (14), softball and baseball (13 each), women's basketball and volleyball (12 each) and women's cross country and wrestling (11 each).

Northern Illinois Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Academic Support Services (SAASS) Francine St. Clair says that academic success, like on-the-field success, is a team effort.

"It all starts with the student-athletes, but we have a very hard-working and dedicated staff here at SAASS and coaches that stress academics every day," St. Clair said. "We have received great support from [Vice Provost] Gip Seaver and the staff at the Provost's Office and so many other offices throughout campus. It truly is a group effort and it's great to see those efforts rewarded."

On the field this fall, Northern Illinois claimed the Mid-American Conference men's soccer championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, while the volleyball team won the MAC West crown and the women's soccer team advanced to the finals of the MAC Tournament. The Huskie football team played in its second bowl game in the last three years while recording its seventh straight winning season.

A complete list of student-athletes who achieved a 3.0 or above for the Fall 2006 semester is below. Individuals who posted a perfect 4.0 G.P.A. for the term are indicated with a *.

FALL 2006 NIU SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

BASEBALL (13)
Dan Atkenson, Mark Badgley, Justin Behm, Matt Behren, Joe Buonavolanto, Andy Deain, Matt German, Colin Grant, Brad Heinz, Tim Kamin, Jesse Seykora, Brian Smith, Bobby Stevens.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (12)
Mary Basic, Ebony Ellis, Tiffany Kline, Becky Smith*, Tara Michels*, Stephanie Raymond, Aileen Roussouw, Jennifer Uptmor, Shari Welton*, Jessie Wilcox, Kristin Wiener, Keishonda Williamson.

MEN'S BASKETBALL (3)
James Hughes, Zach Pancratz, Ryan Paradise.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (11)
Meghan Ginter, Allison Grissom, Sarah Hilby, Elizabeth Lemrise, Christina Nieto, Ashley Rittenbacher, Stacey Rosch, Jessica Schauff, Mia Supanich-Winter, Denisse Valladares, Brenda Zepeda*.

FOOTBALL (51)
Eddie Adamski, Evans Adonis, Anthony Antonacci, Brandon Beal, Bryan Beckner, Brad Benson, Brandon Bice, Keenan Blalark, Jon Brost, Jarret Carter, Tyler Clasey, Jacob Coffman, Jason Cruikshank, Brandon Davis, Jon Ellison, Jeff Fontana, Doug Free, Ryan Gierke, Adam Grimm, Adriel Hansbro, Alvah Hansbro, Phil Horvath, James Jefferies, Dan Keller, David Koronkiewicz, Michael Krause, John Kremer, Alex Krutsch, Alex Kube, Billy Lowe, Anthony Mason*, Vincent Matthew, Tim Mayerbock, Josh McCormick, Tim McCarthy, Ryan Morris, Chris Nendick, Jake Nordin, Eric Pittman, Mark Reiter, Craig Rusch, Adam Schroeder, Matt Simon, Kevin Skatrud, Kevin Smothers, Justin Stewart, Panan Tense, John Tranchitella, Jake Wertz, Preston Williams, Spencer Williamson.

MEN'S GOLF (5)
Andrew Frame, Zachary Jecklin, Timothy Kay, Jared Steger, Alex Wagner

WOMEN'S GOLF (8)
Jackie Bailey, Kim Bailey, Lisa Bailey, Kim Hunley, Abby Many*, Anne Senn, Nicole Schultz, Allison Williams.

WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS (17)
Tiffany Anderson, Natalie Blum, Nicole Brugnoni, Meghan Cronin*, Ashton Flora, Allison Holysz*, Amanda Johnson, Kelly Kramer, Jessica Marston*, Jennifer Naughton, Bethany Plapp, Jennifer Rice, Amy Ristvedt, Jocelyn Sandoval, Brittany Swantek, Amber Whitecotton, Jody Yednock*.

MEN'S SOCCER (14)
Bryan Abdallah, Steve Algozino, Brad Bahr*, Alan Bickel, Chris Brown, David Claxton, Luis De La Cerda, Matt Galanes, Kyle Knotek*, Steven Kolzow, Chris VanDuerm*, Kevin Woerner, Curt Zastrow, Aaron Zendejas.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (19)
Michelle Christian*, Lindsey Curnock, Micaela Damas, Erin Dunbar, Elaine Eliadis, Karen Enockson*, Erin Fahey, Shannon Finucane, Audrey Holmer, Megan Kolkay*, Thea Johnson, Hannah Nussbaum, Marisa Oriente, Kimberly Schmitt, Jamie Sitter, Katie Sturges*, Cara Stutler, Kelly Swisher, Brandy Tarnowsky, Alexis Terry.

SOFTBALL (13)
Katie Colby, Renee Dearborn, Kelly Drozd, Paige Granath, Kate Greenough, Michelle Nendza, Bailey Ouellette, Kelly Park*, Allie Parker, Jenna Roberts, Ellen Stoddard, Dani Thompson, Katelyn Welsh.

MEN'S TENNIS (4)
Javier Bernabe, Jimmy Chu*, Brian Livingston, Alfonso Monroy, Diego Zegarra-Ballon.

WOMEN'S TENNIS (6)
Jenny Edner, Brooke Forsberg, Chrissy Nagel, Stephanie Okuma, Nao Umemura.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD (19)
Jennene Anthony, Cora Caulfield, Meghan Ginter*, Allison Grissom, Sarah Hilby, Lauren Kubasiak, Elizabeth Lemrise*, Brandie Lindo, April Lowery, Rochelle Muskeyvalley, Christina Nieto, Ashley Rittenbacher, Stacey Rosch, Jessica Schauff, Mia Supanich-Winter, Jessica Statler*, Denisse Valladeres, Abigail Wyatt, Brenda Zepeda*.

VOLLEYBALL (12)
Laura Baetzel, Joelle Beisel, Maria Benitez, Mandi Caputo, Gina Guide*, Jody Hardwick*, Irene Johnson, Monica Lang, Meagan Schoenrock, Amanda Tadla, Amy Ward, Cassie Yates.

WRESTLING (11)
Vince Castillo, Bryan Deutsch, John Giuliano, Dave Herrera, Kalen Knull, Will McDermott*, Pat McLemore, Matthew Owen, Anthony Victor, Patrick Walsh, John Weinert.

-- NIU --