Knights Tabbed for Academic Excellence

ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The American Athletic Conference announced its 2015-16 Team Academic Excellence Awards Wednesday, recognizing both UCF women's tennis and UCF men's golf for their efforts in the classroom.
 
The awards are given to the teams with the highest collective grade-point average (GPA) in each conference's 21 sports.  The winners were chosen based on the 2015-16 grade-point average of each student-athlete who appeared on an institution's roster as of the last contest of the championship segment.
 
The UCF women's tennis team boasted a team GPA of 3.755 for the fall semester and 3.712 in the spring. The Knights were also recognized previously, when they received the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team Honors. Seven Knights also received the ITA Scholar-Athlete distinction.
 
Newly appointed head women's tennis coach Bryan Koniecko said he was impressed with the team's ability to stay focused on their studies given the pressure and demands of being a student-athlete.
 
"To have the demanding schedule that these young women have and still maintain such a high collective team GPA, truly shows their commitment to being student-athletes," Koniecko said. "They take great pride for what they do in the classroom and it is great to see them get rewarded for it".
 
The UCF men's golf team notched a team GPA of 3.592 for the fall semester and 3.340 for the spring, with seven of the eight student-athletes posting an individual GPA of 3.4 or higher. 
 
Head men's golf coach Bryce Wallor credits not only the student-athletes but also the UCF academic support staff for working with the team and continuing to stress the importance of academics.  
 
"This award recognizes the effort put forth by our student-athletes in the classroom," Wallor said. "But also the structure and guidance provided by our academic support staff. I would like to thank everyone involved with our program that continues to motivate our student-athletes to become well rounded young men. This is a wonderful honor that shows a true commitment to academic achievement."
 
2015-16 American Athletic Conference Team Academic Excellence Awards