JBU teams honored

Eight John Brown University athletic programs were honored, seven in consecutive seasons, as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced its 2017-18 Scholar-Team Awards, which included 1,862 programs across the country.

The men’s cross country program led all JBU teams with a 3.66 grade-point average, followed closely by women’s cross country and volleyball (3.65). Women’s soccer (3.50), women’s basketball (3.47), women’s tennis (3.39) and men’s tennis (3.18) were all repeat honorees. Men’s soccer (3.06) appeared on the list for the first time since 2015-16.

“I am very proud of our Golden Eagle teams that were named NAIA Scholar-Teams,” said Director of Athletics Robyn Daugherty. “This award really highlights the hard work JBU student-athletes are doing in the classroom and it encourages our coaches who work so hard with our studentathletes in competition, but also in academics, leadership and character building.”

Missouri Baptist’s women’s tennis team, which finished the academic year with a NAIA-best combined 3.90 grade-point average, was selected as the ScholarTeam of the Year. Tabor (Kan.) women’s tennis and Wayland Baptist (Texas) women’s golf followed right behind with a 3.88 collective GPA.

St. Ambrose (Iowa) led the pack with 23 teams represented on the list. Cumberlands (Ky.) was next with 21 teams making the list.

Morningside (Iowa) and Concordia (Neb.) added their own 20 teams as scholars, while Hastings (Neb.), Indiana Wesleyan, Lindenwood–Belleville (Ill.), Northwestern (Iowa), and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) all contributed 19 Scholar-Teams.

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