Jayhawk tennis makes the grade

By By Eric Jorgensen

Thursday, September 1, 2005

The Kansas tennis team proved last semester that managing athletics and academics is possible.

The team had a cumulative grade point average of 3.49, which was higher than any other sports team at the University.

Spring 2005 Cumulative Team GPA’s

Tennis - 3.49 (New all time KUAC record)

Men’s Golf - 3.30

Soccer - 3.23

Swimming & Diving - 3.21

Rowing - 3.19

Volleyball - 3.18

Women’s Track & Field - 3.10

Softball - 3.02

Women’s Basketball - 2.93

Men’s Track & Field - 2.88

Men’s Basketball - 2.81

Women’s Golf - 2.79

Football - 2.59

Baseball - 2.57

Source: kuathletics.com

In a statement released by the Athletics Department during the summer, the department said that the 3.49 GPA was an all-time record. The athletics program as a whole averaged a 2.92 GPA last semester.

Often cramped for time, the team found itself studying on the road and during the evenings after practices. Sophomore Stephanie Smith said she was pleased the team was able to accomplish such a feat during the tennis season.

“I’m amazed,” Smith said. “Everyone worked hard, and the fact that it was during the spring semester when we travel a lot more is even more impressive.”

Smith, a journalism major, received several accolades for her 4.0 GPA last semester. Among the awards were the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and the Big 12 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Junior tennis player Ashley Filberth also earned a 4.0 last semester. She was named first team All-Academic Big 12.

The Kansas City, Mo., native said balancing academics and athletics was not easy, but it was possible with determination.

“It’s a lot harder in the spring, because we miss so much class,” Filberth said. “We’re gone almost every weekend, so we miss lots of Friday classes and some Monday ones.”

The team remained optimistic for this semester.

“In the fall it’s easier to study since we travel less,” Smith said. “I feel I do better when I have a lot of things to do. With tennis and school, I’ll stay focused.”

Filberth also said the fall semester is less time-consuming, allowing for more time to study. She said she had faith that her teammates could maintain last semester’s high standards.

“I think all the girls are smart and capable,” Filberth said. “We know how to work hard,” Filberth said.

The team will have more free time to study until September 7 when practice starts. Then players will be back to the usual grind of school, practice and late-night studying.

— Edited by Tricia Masenthin

Breaking down the APR

The Academic Progress Rate for student-athletes can be confusing if you don't ...

/news/2010/may/17/breaking-down-apr/

Student-athletes set GPA records

The fall 2007 semester proved to be an academically successful one for ...

/news/2008/jan/25/academics/

KU athletes tie record for best GPA

Kansas Athletics earn better grades and tie with record GPA last Fall.

/news/2010/jan/20/ku-athletes-tie-record-best-gpa/

Seven Jayhawks named to all-league squad

Kansas and Oklahoma lead the league in student athletes named to the ...

/news/2010/nov/16/seven-jayhawks-named-all-league-squad/

Support boosts team GPAs

/news/2006/jun/21/support_boosts_team_gpas/

Two players receive award for academic achievements

/news/2005/mar/02/sports_basketball_womens_academic/

Women’s golf adds strong competitors to roster

Coach Erin O’Neill wants her players to prepare intensely for every tournament.

/news/2010/aug/16/womens-golf-adds-strong-competitors-roster/

Students struggle to raise grades

Freshmen seeing impact of poor performance during first college semester

/news/2009/jan/22/students_struggle/

Kansas gets confidence booster

/news/2005/mar/28/sports_tennis_three/

Governor wants to improve school ranking

Parkinson calls for tougher admission standards.

/news/2009/sep/10/governor_wants_improve_school_ranking/

Salina native finds perfect fit

Tennis star stands out as dreams come alive on court.

/news/2007/mar/16/tennis/

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ...

Maintaining good academic standings easier with new policy.

/news/2007/sep/05/policy/

Editorial: Athletes set records with impressive GPAs

Student athletes continue to work hard in the classroom and on the ...

/news/2009/apr/03/editorial_athletes/

Study Abroad offers more scholarship opportunities

Students who want to study abroad might have an easier time getting ...

/news/2010/feb/02/studyabroadscholarships/

Athletics Department reaches NCAA graduation goal

The Athletics Department released Graduation Success Rate data for its athletes on ...

/news/2008/sep/23/athletics/

No. 25 Brigham Young defeats Kansas

/news/2005/jan/31/sports_tennis_young/

Vosburgh: Kentucky basketball posts new lows in ...

The Wildcats as a team had a grade point average of 2.95, ...

/news/2010/may/04/vosburgh-kentucky-basketball-posts-new-lows-gpas/

Russian tennis player finds home at KU

Victoria Khanevskaya, a freshman from Moscow, adjusts to KU with support from ...

/news/2010/feb/02/russian-tennis-player-finds-home-ku/

Tiebreakers decide matches

/news/2005/mar/14/sports_tennis_home/

Kansas athletes given Big 12 academic award

Quinn Mecham, Sarah Hettenbach and Zach Zarda were awarded the Dr. Gerald ...

/news/2012/mar/06/athletic-academics/

Garlington named to ESPN's academic team

She received second team honors for maintaining a cumulative 3.77 grade point ...

/news/2010/nov/04/garlington-named-academic/

Jayhawks defeat Illinois State; look ahead to ...

/news/2005/jan/24/sports_tennis/

University women’s GPAs exceed men’s

/news/2005/may/11/news_campus_gpas/

Three Jayhawks honored by Academic all-Big 12 ...

/news/2005/apr/28/sports_tennis_brief/

Achieving two dreams

How student athletes juggle games and GPAs

/news/2008/jan/31/achieving_two_dreams/

Kansas finds itself in doubles trouble

/news/2005/apr/14/sports_tennis_loss/

Golf team to develop its younger players

/news/2005/feb/10/sports_gold_young/

Women’s tennis serves up a young roster

/news/2005/jan/28/sports_tennis_roster/

Kansas stuck in losing trend

/news/2005/apr/11/sports_tennis_border/

Kansas Relays schedule

Here is a look at today's schedule of events for the Kansas ...

/news/2007/apr/19/relays_schedule/

Tennis Brief: April 25, 2007

Two Jayhawks have been named to the Academic All-Big 12 tennis team.

/news/2007/apr/25/tennis_brief/

Perkins nabs top spot in sports poll

Kansas athletic director beats Red Sox owner and Celtics general manager after ...

/news/2008/sep/18/perkins_nabs_top_spot_sports_poll/

Jayhawks defeated twice in Mississippi

/news/2005/feb/07/sports_tennis_defeat/

Swimming and Diving

Swimmers’ work in the classroom earns honors

/news/2009/feb/19/swimming_and_diving/

Sports Briefs: April 12, 2007

Here are the sports briefs for April 14.

/news/2007/apr/12/sports_briefs/

Admissions bar to raise for Kansans

/news/2005/sep/21/ne_selective_admissions/

Academic All-Big 12 golfers announced

Five Jayhawk golfers made the Big 12 conference team.

/news/2012/apr/18/academic-all-big-12-golfers-announced/

NCAA orders additional penalties for Kansas

After years of investigation, a hearing and eight more weeks of waiting, ...

/news/2006/oct/13/ncaa_orders_additional_penalties_kansas_athletics/

Better know a major

Environmental Studies offers unique set of skills and opportunities within a degree.

/news/2010/jan/20/better-know-major/

Leaving a lasting legacy

As Hemenway prepares to retire, he and others look back at how ...

/news/2009/may/04/leaving_legacy/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID