FHSU Athletics
ATLANTA - With a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.814, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team led all Division II in the 2021-22 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll, released Wednesday (July 20) by the coaches association. It is both the highest ranking ever achieved by the team in the 27-year history of the poll and the highest team GPA on record.
The Tigers have been listed in the Academic Top 25 11 times under head coach Tony Hobson, including four appearances in the top 10.
The Tigers were one of just four schools nationwide ranked in the top 25 in both the final WBCA DII national coaches poll and the academic team honor roll.
School - Academic Top 25 Ranking - Final WBCA Ranking
Fort Hays State - 1st - 7th
Lubbock Christian - 4th - 19th
Ashland - 6th - 9th
Pace - 10th - 15th
Fort Hays State is one of three MIAA programs ranked in this year's Academic Top 25. The Tigers have been the top-ranked conference school four of the last five years.
All 14 Tigers on the 2021-22 roster were listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, with five student-athletes receiving the MIAA Academic Excellence Award and four picking up the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award. Cydney Bergmann, Kate Dilsaver, Megan Earney, Grace Eck and Whitney Randall all earned the MIAA Academic Excellence Award for continuing to maintain a perfect 4.00 GPA, while Bergmann, Randall, Olivia Hollenbeck and Katie Wagner all received the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award for carrying a GPA north of 3.50 and earning All-MIAA status on the court.
The WBCA Academic Top 25 annually recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III; NAIA; and junior/community college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined grade point average (GPA) inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2021-22 season is the 27th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls. This year's release marks the first year in which all teams which reported a minimum 3.0 GPA also are recognized for their academic accomplishment.
Fort Hays State's historical rankings in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll and the complete 2021-22 Top 25 can be found below.
FHSU in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll
Year | Rank - GPA
2021-22 | 1st - 3.814
2020-21 | 3rd - 3.764
2018-19 | 6th - 3.708
2017-18 | 13th - 3.667
2016-17 | 13th - 3.624
2015-16 | 22nd - 3.559
2014-15 | 23rd - 3.536
2012-13 | 14th - 3.500
2011-12 | 4th - 3.628
2010-11 | 12th - 3.523
2009-10 | T14th - 3.473
2002-03 | 16th - 3.444
Rank - Institution - Head Coach - GPA
1 - Fort Hays State University - Tony Hobson - 3.814
T2 - Ursuline College - Shannon Sword - 3.806
T2 - Northwest Missouri State University - Austin Meyer -
3.806
4 - Lubbock Christian University - Steve Gomez - 3.805
5 - East Stroudsburg University - Stephanie Del Preore -
3.800
6 - Ashland University - Kari Pickens - 3.798
T7 - William Jewell College - Jill Slominski - 3.770
T7 - Montana State University Billings - Kevin Woodin -
3.770
9 - Kutztown University - Janet Malouf - 3.768
10 - Pace University - Carrie Seymour - 3.755
11 - Minot State University - Mike Brandt - 3.753
12 - Point Loma Nazarene University - Charity Elliott -
3.746
13 - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Lisa Wilson -
3.745
14 - University of Montevallo - Gary Van Atta - 3.736
15 - Michigan Technological University - Samantha Clayton -
3.734
16 - Adelphi University - Sade Jackson - 3.727
17 - University of Nebraska Kearney - Carrie Eighmey - 3.725
18 - Wayne State University - Carrie Lohr - 3.723
19 - Minnesota State University Moorhead - Karla Nelson -
3.686
20 - Seton Hill University - Mark Katarski - 3.679
21 - Henderson State University - Jill Thomas - 3.678
22 - Lindenwood University - Katie Falco - 3.670
23 - Rockhurst University - Larry Park - 3.658
24 - Fort Lewis College - Taylor Harris - 3.653
25 - University of Charleston - Tianni Kelly - 3.643
Special Mention: Truman State University, Theo Dean, 3.637; Chestnut Hill College, Jim Connolly, 3.625; Southern New Hampshire University, Karen Pinkos, 3.620; Emory & Henry College, Jaclyn Dickens, 3.611; University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Lynn Plett, 3.604; Southwest Minnesota State University, Tom Webb, 3.600; McKendree University, Kari Kerkhoff, 3.598; Augustana University, Dave Krauth, 3.591; University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Jen Conely, 3.576; University of Mary, Rick Neumann, 3.570; Southwest Baptist University, Kelsey Keizer, 3.561; University of Alaska Fairbanks, Jessie Craig, 3.557; St. Thomas Aquinas College, Bill Cleary, 3.552; Minnesota State University, Emilee Thiesse, 3.552; Western Washington University, Carmen Dolfo, 3.545; Hillsdale College, Charlie Averkamp, 3.538; Chadron State College, Janet Raymer, 3.536; Davenport University, Travis Schuba, 3.507; Bemidji State University, Chelsea DeVille, 3.507; Gannon University, Cleve Wright, 3.498; Seattle Pacific University, Mike Simonson, 3.488; Winona State University, Scott Ballard, 3.477; Wingate University, Ann Hancock, 3.466; Metropolitan State University of Denver, Tanya Haave, 3.466; Miles College, Phillip Wallace, 3.460; Holy Family University, Bernadette Laukaitis, 3.447; University of Illinois Springfield, Casey Thousand, 3.440; Valdosta State University, Deandra Schirmer, 3.383; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Jeri Jacobson, 3.380; Daemen College, Jenepher Banker, 3.375; Goldey-Beacom College, Bethann Burke, 3.362; Tusculum University, Meagan Price, 3.338; Stonehill College, Trisha Brown, 3.328; Union University, Mark Campbell, 3.327; California State University, East Bay, Shanelle Stires, 3.325; Fort Valley State University, Andrea Williams, 3.322; Azusa Pacific University, T.J. Hardeman, 3.313; Chaminade University of Honolulu, Arthur King, 3.303; Barry University, Kristina Baugh, 3.289; University of West Florida, Stephanie Yelton, 3.276; Oklahoma Christian University, Stephanie Findley, 3.255; California State University San Marcos, Renee Jimenez, 3.251; Bentley University, C White, 3.242; Dominican University of California, Tim LaKose, 3.231; West Texas A&M University, Josh Prock, 3.229; Christian Brothers University, Jessie Carmack, 3.224; University of Hawaii at Hilo, David Kaneshiro, 3.220; California State University, San Bernardino, Casandra Renno, 3.209; Coker University, Melissa DeVore, 3.201; Northwest Nazarene University, Steve Steele, 3.176; Converse University, Samantha Davidson, 3.109; St. Mary's University (Texas), Jason Martens, 3.081; California State University, Los Angeles, Torino Johnson, 3.069; Academy of Art University, Krystle Evans, 3.049.