HICKORY, N.C. — For the first time in Catawba Valley Community College athletics program history, all of the NJCAA athletic teams achieved a team GPA higher than 3.0.

The Red Hawk athletic programs were led by women's basketball who earned a 3.77 GPA and had all of the team members named to the Athletic Director List. Women's basketball was followed by softball, which earned a 3.49 GPA, baseball with a 3.17 GPA and men's basketball with a 3.09.

"I am extremely proud of the Lady Red Hawks on their academic achievement," said head women's basketball coach Tisha England about her team's academic success.  "We, here at CVCC strive for excellence in everything we do. Our ladies have worked hard in the classroom and on the court. The success of a coach should be measured by the ability to bridge basketball skills into successful life lessons while developing better human beings; therefore, excelling in academics is one of the highest achievements in education. I am proud of these ladies."

As a whole, all four programs saw their student-athletes achieve a 3.26 GPA as a group.

Bass fishing also posted a team GPA above a 3.00 with a 3.18 and the overall athletics department saw student-athletes achieve a 3.12 GPA as a program.

Student-athletes achieving a GPA of 3.5 or higher were named to the Athletic Director list.  For the fall semester, 65 student-athletes earned the honor. Women's basketball had all seven active student-athletes earn the honor, baseball had 25, bass fishing with 11, esports with nine, softball with seven, and men's basketball six.

Of the total 142 student athletes at CVCC, 98 of them (69 percent) made at least a 3.0 GPA.

"I cannot put into words how proud I am of our student-athletes and coaching staffs," said CVCC Executive Director of Athletics Nick Schroeder.  "To achieve a program GPA above 3.00 is extremely difficult and our students were able to achieve this by their hard work as well as the support and encouragement given to them by their coaches and teachers. This accomplishment is proof of Catawba Valley's commitment to creating successful students."

2025 Fall Semester Athletic Director List