Academic Excellence (Statistics updated through 2017 Season)
Gannon University has been a two-pronged program for well over a decade. The squads are competitive on the course and in the classroom. In fact, Gannon’s team grade point averages have been either the best or one of the best nationally over the last 18 years.
The men’s program produced the nation’s highest team grade point average among NCAA Division II schools in 1998, 1999, 2010 and 2015. The women’s team finished No. 1 in 2011. The Lady Knights were second in 1999, 2005, 2007 and 2010.
Both teams earned NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team honors in each of the last 15 seasons. The selection of the all-academic teams is based on cumulative grade point averages submitted by member head coaches for the fall academic term. All teams above a cumulative 3.00 grade point average are honored for their performance.
The women’s team posted its 14th consecutive top-10 finish last season, ranking fifth among all NCAA Division II programs with a 3.74 cumulative grade point average. The Lady Knights placed second nationally in 1999, 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2011. The squad was third in 2016, third in 1998, fourth in 2006, fourth in 2013, fourth in 2014, fifth in 2008 and fifth in 2012.
The men’s squad ranked No. 3 among NCAA Division II programs in 2017 for its sixth consecutive top-four finish with a 3.73 cumulative grade point average. The Golden Knights' recent streak includes a top ranking (3.64) in 2010 and (3.8) 2015, as well as a second-place nod (3.60) in 2011. The program has recorded third-place finishes in 2012 (3.58), 2013 (3.69) and 2016 (3.69).
Individually, eight Gannon cross country student-athletes were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic team last season. The list included Bobby Danielson, Allie Domer, Sarah Fiorello, Grant Folgate, Eric Ingram, Meredith Morse, Garrett Sutton and Joseph Westrick. A student-athlete must finish in the top third of the NCAA regional race and have a 3.00 cumulative GPA or better to qualify for the team. Gannon runners have received the honor 42 times since 2007. Veronica Bujdos (2012-15) and Danielson (2014-17) were four-time honorees. Emily Reinhart (2011-13) follows with three selections. Nicole Bubie (2012-13), Brittany Zaborowski (2007-08), Rosie Cooper (2009-10), Andy Hellmann (2011-12), Grace McGrath (2015-16), Domer (2016-17), Sutton (2016-17) and Westrick (2016-17) are two-time winners. The list of runners who received the honor once includes Carter Denne (2010), Madison Steward (2009), Jenna Szczepanski (2008), Shayna Weir (2007), C.J. Kennett (2012), Joe Wisniewski (2012), Kailyn Bentley (2014), Eric Boring (2014), Brian Svoboda (2014), Gabby Kennelley (2015), Nick Samsel (2016), Fiorello (2017), Ingram (2017) and Morse (2017).
Seventeen Lady Knights and 11 Golden Knights were named 2016 PSAC Scholar-Athletes, bringing the program’s all-academic selections to 267 over the last 15 seasons. Another 17 Gannon runners received the Division II Athletics Directors Association (DII ADA) Academic Achievement Award last year, bringing that total to 96 during the last seven seasons.
