Concordia athletics tops nation in NAIA Scholar-Teams

By Jacob Knabel on Jul. 16, 2016 in Athletic Announcements

NAIA release

SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University athletic teams topped NAIA institutions across the nation for total number of 2015-16 NAIA Scholar-Teams. Concordia and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) shared the national lead with 20 NAIA Scholar-Teams apiece, as announced by the NAIA on Friday (July 15). Every single eligible Concordia varsity team earned distinction on the NAIA’s list.

For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar-Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

Of the 20 Concordia Scholar-Teams, 13 of them ranked among the top 10 (in terms of GPA) in the NAIA when compared to their respective sports. Head coach Dana Vote’s Bulldogs ranked No. 2 among all NAIA wrestling programs. Meanwhile, head coach Drew Olson’s squad checked in at No. 3 on the list of NAIA women’s basketball programs. Five Concordia teams placed inside the top five nationally.

Concordia University also boasts the most all-time NAIA Scholar-Athletes of any institution in the nation. Concordia now has 1,306 all-time NAIA Scholar-Athletes, including 92 for the 2015-16 academic year. In addition, eight Bulldog student-athletes garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades this past season. Six of the eight were also named to CoSIDA Academic All-America teams.

2015-16 Concordia NAIA Scholar-Teams
*(National sport rank in parentheses – if among top 10)
Baseball – 3.28 (T-10th)
Men’s Basketball – 3.43 (4th)
Women’s Basketball – 3.71 (3rd)
Cheer and Dance – 3.32 (T-3rd)
Men’s Cross Country – 3.23
Women’s Cross Country – 3.68 (T-10th)
Football – 3.00 (T-8th)
Women’s Golf – 3.69 (T-7th)
Men’s Golf – 3.41
Men’s Soccer – 3.42 (T-6th)
Women’s Soccer – 3.62 (T-5th)
Softball – 3.29
Men’s Tennis – 3.15
Women’s Tennis – 3.25
Men’s Indoor T&F – 3.14
Women’s Indoor T&F – 3.61 (8th)
Men’s Outdoor T&F – 3.13
Women’s Outdoor T&F – 3.60 (8th)
Volleyball – 3.60 (T-10th)
Wrestling – 3.13 (2nd)