Jan. 31, 2013
2012 Fall Academic All-MW Team
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Albuquerque, N.M. — The University of New Mexico had 52 student-athletes named to the Fall 2012 Academic All-Mountain West team, the second highest total in the league, a 30 percent increase from last fall. The honors highlight a record-breaking fall semester that saw UNM student-athletes set records for fall grade point average for male students, female students, and the department as a whole.
The department grade point average of 3.21 set a record for overall fall grade point average, and it equaled the 3.21 of last spring for the best overall department GPA. Male student-athletes had their second straight semester with over a 3.0, amassing a 3.02 GPA, a new overall and fall record. The female student-athletes picked up a 3.47 grade point average, also a new fall record.
All told, 13 of UNM’s 16 programs (cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field are all combined, as is skiing) saw increases in grade point averages from last fall to this fall.
Highlighting the improvements on the men’s side was tennis, which jumped up 0.25 point to a 3.49 GPA. Other notable jumps were made by football, which under first year coach Bob Davie saw the team go from a 2.46 to a 2.62, and a trio of sports in men’s basketball, skiing, and soccer, which all improved 0.15 points. Skiing led the men’s side with a 3.72, while men’s basketball continued its strong academic reputation with a 2.89 grade point average, the highest fall GPA in the last 19 years.
Six of the eight men’s programs had grade point averages over a 3.0, while all of the women’s programs achieved that feat. Women’s golf had the department’s best GPA with a 3.79, improving 0.37 points from last fall, the highest jump on either side.
“I am continually amazed at the job our student-athletes do in the classroom, on the playing surfaces, and in the community. We have tremendous young people who represent this University incredibly well and who serve as a source of pride for the State of New Mexico,” said Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs. “Our latest GPA numbers reflect hard work in the classroom. The results are also a direct reflection of the commitment our coaches have to academics and the strong support provided by our Office of Student Athletic Success and the support of faculty and staff around campus.”
The academic success of the fall semester was further cemented when 52 student-athletes were named to the Fall 2012 Academic All-Mountain West teams. The 52 was the third-best total in UNM history, and it was second this semester to only Boise State, who placed 56 on the various teams.
Women’s soccer paced the way for New Mexico with a conference leading 17 honorees, which is also the most in school history. The football program had 14 members on the team, the second-most in a single season for the sport. Bob Davie’s charges doubled the previous year’s total of seven.
Joe Franklin’s conference championship teams were also well represented, with seven men honored (second-highest total in UNM history for the sport), and eight for the women (third-highest total in UNM history for the sport). Jeff Nelson’s volleyball team placed six on the squad, giving UNM an improvement from a year ago in all five sports represented.
New Mexico has finished second in total Academic All-Mountain West student-athletes in each of the last nine years.