From ORU Sports
Blake Freeland, Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations
TULSA – The Oral Roberts athletic department continued its strong work in the classroom and set a new school record with a cumulative 3.20 GPA for the 2015-16 academic year. Also, for the first time ever, all 16 teams finished the year with a team GPA of at least 3.00.
Since 1997-98, ORU has posted a 3.00 GPA or better 18 of the last 19 years and the Golden Eagles have set a school record for the highest GPA in each of the last two years. A total of 166 of the university’s 254 student-athletes (65 percent) finished the year with at least a 3.00 GPA.
“I am very proud of our student-athletes for their accomplishments this year,” said Director of Athletics Mike Carter. “I am equally proud of our coaches for the emphasis they put on strong academics at ORU.”
ORU had a trio of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in Kaily Cox (women’s soccer), Trevor Torgerson (men’s golf) and Justin Estala (track and field). It was Cox’s second time earning the honor, and the group became the sixth, seventh and eighth Academic All-American selections in ORU history. Paola Aviles and Shinwoo Lee were also named WGCA All-American Scholars.
The Golden Eagles had 56 student-athletes honored on the Summit League’s Fall Academic Honor Roll with at least a 3.0 GPA. Of those 56, 18 were named distinguished scholars with at least a 3.60 GPA. For the winter and spring sports, ORU placed 72 student-athletes on the Summit League’s Academic Honor Roll with 27 earning distinguished scholar honors.
“Our student-athletes do a tremendous job in the classroom and I really appreciate that the value the academic side of the student-athlete experience,” said Kyle Jones, associate AD/academics.
With 71 percent of the roster earning a spot on the Commissioner’s List, the ORU men’s basketball team was honored with the Team Academic Achievement Award for the sport, while the women’s golf and men’s tennis teams tied for their sport’s award with 100 percent of the roster making the Commissioner’s list.
ORU had 10 student-athletes named to the Academic All-League teams, one more than in 2014-15.
All of the academic honors came along with athletic success as well, as ORU swept the Summit League regular season and tournament championships in baseball and had 68 All-League selections. The Golden Eagles also earned a pair of championship MVP awards (track and field), had two Summit League Newcomers of the Year (men’s tennis, baseball), a sixth woman of the year (WBB), a coach of the year (baseball) and a Defensive Player of the Year (women’s soccer).