Record 32 Big South Teams Honored with NCAA Public Recognition Awards
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – The Big South Conference had a league-record 32 athletic programs honored Wednesday by the NCAA with Public Recognition Awards for their latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores -- the fifth consecutive year with a record total and four more than the previous high, as well as the 11th overall double-figure total in the 14 years of the NCAA’s academic reform program. These awards are given each year to teams with APRs in the top 10 percent in each sport and the current results are based through the 2017-18 academic year.
“The academic achievement of the student-athletes in the Big South is what we are most proud of,” stated Big South Commissioner
Kyle Kallander. “To set another APR record and to have more sports represented than ever before, reflects the hard work and dedication of our outstanding student-athletes, and the support of our members to their success. Big South institutions continue to make winners in the classroom, in the community, and on the field of play.”
All 11 Big South member institutions from the 2017-18 academic year were honored for the second consecutive year, with
Campbell University and
UNC Asheville leading the way with six, followed by
Presbyterian College with five.
Two teams recognized Wednesday participated in NCAA Championships in 2017-18 --
Campbell women’s golf and
Campbell men’s tennis. For the first time in conference history two women’s lacrosse teams were honored, while a men’s basketball team was recognized for the first time since 2009.
Of the Big South’s 17 eligible sports (the NCAA combines indoor track & field and outdoor track & field into one category), 12 received recognition -- tied for the most sports honored in league history. Women’s golf earned the overall league-lead with seven programs honored. It is the 12th time that women’s golf had the most honorees. Below is the Big South’s breakdown by sport:
Women’s Golf (7) – Campbell, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Longwood, Presbyterian, UNC Asheville, Winthrop
Women’s Cross Country (5) – Campbell, High Point, Liberty, Longwood, Presbyterian
Women’s Tennis (4) – Charleston Southern, Liberty, Presbyterian, UNC Asheville
Volleyball (3) – Campbell, Liberty, UNC Asheville
Men’s Tennis (2) – Campbell, UNC Asheville
Men’s Cross Country (2) – Campbell, Presbyterian
Women’s Basketball (2) – Radford, UNC Asheville
Women’s Soccer (2) – Presbyterian, UNC Asheville
Women’s Lacrosse (2) – Campbell, Liberty
Men’s Golf (1) – Gardner-Webb
Women’s Track & Field (1) – High Point
Men’s Basketball (1) – Gardner-Webb
Each year, the NCAA tracks the classroom performance of student-athletes on every Division I team through the annual scorecard of academic achievement, known as APR. The score honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear APR (the most recent APRs are based on scores from the 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years). This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams who demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports. By measuring eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or quarter, the APR provides a clear picture of academic performance in each sport.
Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams will be announced on May 8.