Fall Athletic Teams Perform Well in the Classroom

Fall Athletic Teams Perform Well in the Classroom

The Saddleback College athletic department is pleased to announce that eight of the college's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams that were in season during the Fall 2018 semester have amassed an average team grade point average over 3.00.

"Conference, state and national championship titles in athletics are recognizable measures that signify outstanding achievement at every level.  The focus on athletic excellence is no different here.  Our teams and coaches work hard to achieve high levels of performance standards, but what has impressed me the most about Saddleback is the culture of academic success," said newly-hired Athletics Director Randy Totorp.  "We are among the top of all California community colleges in measurable student success outcomes and it is a direct reflection of the commitment of the students, faculty and staff.  I am very proud to join the Gaucho family and the continued outstanding academic performance of our student-athletes."

The Saddleback women's volleyball team posted its highest team GPA ever to lead all fall sports teams.  The team posted a 3.46 GPA with 13 of the 14 students on the roster earning above a 3.00 GPA and making the Athletic Honor Roll.  The women's golf team was close behind with a 3.44 team GPA.  It was the sixth consecutive year that the women's golf program has been above the 3.00 mark.

The women's water polo team posted a 3.40 overall team GPA, eclipsing the benchmark for the fourth consecutive season.  Women's soccer also cleared the bar for the fourth consecutive season, posting a 3.14 team GPA this past fall.  The women's cross country team also posted a 3.14 team GPA to surpass the 3.00 mark for the fifth consecutive season while the men's basketball team posted a 3.12 overall team GPA to mark the fourth consecutive year that program has been on the scholar-team list.  Women's basketball equaled its best-ever team GPA by posting a 3.08 while men's cross country accounted for a 3.04 team GPA to make the list for the fourth time in the past five years.

These teams will now be nominated for Orange Empire Conference scholar-team honors and an opportunity to represent the conference for statewide scholar-team recognition.