Club Sports student-athletes reach new benchmark of success with 3.43 cumulative GPA

The Club Sports Academic Advancement staff sits on the stairs of the entrance to their new office space on the left wing of the old Reber-Thomas Dining Hall. The staff has helped Liberty's 726 Club Sports student-athletes to achieve a new standard of academic success in the Fall 2025 semester.

Club Sports student-athletes reach new benchmark of success with 3.43 cumulative GPA

1/16/2026 1:09:00 PM | General

The 726 members of the 42 distinct Club Sports teams combined to excel in both athletic competition and classroom performance.

Regardless of their fields of study, Liberty University Club Sports student-athletes have continued to thrive at least as much in the classroom as on their respective fields of play.

As evidence to that fact, this past fall semester the 726 student-athletes on the Flames' and Lady Flames' 42 Club Sports teams reached a new high standard for the program by earning a 3.43 cumulative grade-point average. It marked the fifth semester in a row that previous records have been eclipsed — after student-athletes raised the bar from 3.34 in Fall 2023 to 3.35 in Spring 2024 to 3.37 in Fal l2024, to 3.40 in Spring 2025.

"I am very proud of our students-athletes, coaches, and my staff for all of their efforts this past semester," Club Sports Associate Athletic Director for Academic Advancement Sarah Kelly said. "I'm always amazed to see our GPA go up. It's an incredible accomplishment our student-athletes achieve by doing so well academically. Our coaches in Club Sports have done well to create a culture that prioritizes academics for their teams, and we are seeing the fruit of their efforts."

A total of 185 student-athletes (25.5%) recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs last semester and 393 (54%) landed on the Dean's List for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

"Our Club Sports student-athletes are serious about their academic, spiritual, and personal growth, and it's a joy to partner with them and help keep them moving in the right direction," Club Sports Assistant Director of Academic Advancement Donna Holland said.

The top five Club Sports teams for the fall semester were Division I women's hockey (3.71 GPA), women's ultimate (3.68), pistol (3.64), figure skating (3.64), and climbing (3.63). All 42 Club Sports teams achieved at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

"This semester's GPA success is a direct result of our students and staff working together, communicating openly, and supporting one another both in competition and in the classroom," said Club Sports Director of Academic Compliance Heath Grishaw, who also serves as head coach of the men's swimming team. "I am excited to see what the spring semester brings."

Kelly noted that the continued upward trajectory has slowed in recent years, but the consistency of the progression is remarkable.

"I started the Academic department in Fall 2015, and we had a cumulative 2.78 GPA with just over 500 Club Sports student-athletes, so we've come a long way," she said.

Kelly said moving Club Sports' decision to move the Academic department from the LaHaye Ice Center on North Campus to a wing of the former Reber-Thomas Dining Hall, located much closer to the main academic campus, over the summer was a game changer.

"I believe that had a huge impact this semester," she said. "We were closer to student-athletes between classes and saw more of them stopping by to say 'Hi' and ask us questions as well as attend study hall. It was great to be more available to them and to provide a service to them throughout their busy week."

Holland said the level of personal interaction and counseling support the directors and their assistants as well as advisors and mentors offer is a strength of the department.

"We provide a quiet and comfortable place to study with study hall supervisors who really care about the student-athletes' success and are intentional about developing relationships," she said. "Mentoring one-on-one or in small groups allows us to develop strong relationships and provide a resource so they always have someone to go to with their questions."

Academic Mentoring Specialist Tyler Campbell, also the men's and women's climbing head coach, said his first semester serving in the department has been an incredible experience.

"It's rewarding to mentor student-athletes and to witness their success through hard work and a genuine commitment to growth," he said.

Kelly and her staff realize they have a major impact when students ask to be placed in study hall or request to meet with a mentor or advisor.

"They see the value of accountability and relationships," Holland said. "The great reward is watching a student who struggled academically, socially, and spiritually their first year starting to thrive, completing the degree of their dreams, and going on to a successful career."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer