Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Members of the Club Sports Academic department's administrative and support staff outside the study hall set up in the former location of the Reber-Thomas Dining Center
Club Sports student-athletes raise bar once more with 3.47 cumulative GPA after spring semester
5/28/2026 2:58:00 PM | General
The upward trend continues for a sixth consecutive semester with the largest jump during that stretch compared to the 3.43 standard set in the fall.
It was another record-setting semester academically for Liberty University's Club Sports student-athletes, who showcased tremendous drive and dedication in the classroom as well as on their respective teams' playing fields, courts, courses, mats, slopes, trails, ranges, and rinks. In its semi-annual academic report on the progress of the department's 684 student-athletes, the 3.48 grade-point average for the spring semester elevated the Club Sports cumulative GPA to 3.47, eclipsing the previous record of 3.43 set last fall.
"We achieved the highest GPA in Club Sports history," Director of Compliance Heath Grishaw said. "Our pass rate also reached an all-time high of 93.8%, surpassing the 91.8% from the Fall (2025) semester and the 92.5% from (Spring 2025)."
All 41 programs achieved spring semester GPAs of 3.0 or higher and all but one reached that cumulative GPA plateau while only three student-athletes (0.4 percent) did not maintain at least a 2.0 during the spring semester.
The women's cycling team (3.89) ranked the highest overall in the spring semester ( while the women's rock climbing and women's triathlon teams (both 3.77)  posted the highest cumulative GPAs. (Six other teams achieved cumulative GPAs of 3.70 or higher — women's ultimate (3.74), men's pistol (3.73), women's cycling (3.72), women's shotgun (3.70), and women's taekwondo (3.70).
In all, the department had a total of 227 student-athletes (nearly 33 percent) with semester GPAs of 4.0 this spring, an increase from 178 last spring and 185 this past fall. The total number of student-athletes landing on the Dean's List (with GPAs of 3.5 and above) rose from 361 last spring and 393 in the fall to 442 this spring (65 percent).
"(These) excellent highlights showcase the growth of our department," Grishaw said. "I just want to thank everyone for their efforts in helping our student-athletes succeed in and out of the classroom."
According to Associate Athletic Director for Academic Advancement Sarah Kelly, Club Sports student-athletes have now raised their cumulative GPA for the last six semesters in a row — from 3.34 (Fall 2023), 3.35 (Spring 2024), 3.37 (Fall 2024), 3.40 (Spring 2025), 3.43 (Fall 2025), to 3.47 (Spring 2026).
"I started the Club Sports Academic department in Fall 2015, and that semester we had a 2.78 GPA as Club Sports with just over 500 athletes, so we've come a long way," she said, noting more than 700 student-athletes were enrolled at the start of the Fall 2025 semester.
Club Sports Athletic Director Kirk Handy called the growth of the department "unbelievable" Â and the continued upward trajectory of academic as well as athletic success achieved by its student-athletes commendable.
"I am super proud of our coaches and our student-athletes and our staff who did an excellent job facilitating an environment where our students can grow, learn, and receive support," he said.
That support includes academic mentoring and tutoring provided by the Academic Advancement staff, spearheaded out of the LaHaye Ice Center as well as a Club Sports study hall located in the former Reber-Thomas Dining Hall near the Academic Lawn.
"They try to empower everyone on the scale to achieve their academic goals," Handy said. "They come alongside the student-athletes and help them achieve what they believe is God's plan for their lives."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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"We achieved the highest GPA in Club Sports history," Director of Compliance Heath Grishaw said. "Our pass rate also reached an all-time high of 93.8%, surpassing the 91.8% from the Fall (2025) semester and the 92.5% from (Spring 2025)."
All 41 programs achieved spring semester GPAs of 3.0 or higher and all but one reached that cumulative GPA plateau while only three student-athletes (0.4 percent) did not maintain at least a 2.0 during the spring semester.
The women's cycling team (3.89) ranked the highest overall in the spring semester ( while the women's rock climbing and women's triathlon teams (both 3.77)  posted the highest cumulative GPAs. (Six other teams achieved cumulative GPAs of 3.70 or higher — women's ultimate (3.74), men's pistol (3.73), women's cycling (3.72), women's shotgun (3.70), and women's taekwondo (3.70).
In all, the department had a total of 227 student-athletes (nearly 33 percent) with semester GPAs of 4.0 this spring, an increase from 178 last spring and 185 this past fall. The total number of student-athletes landing on the Dean's List (with GPAs of 3.5 and above) rose from 361 last spring and 393 in the fall to 442 this spring (65 percent).
"(These) excellent highlights showcase the growth of our department," Grishaw said. "I just want to thank everyone for their efforts in helping our student-athletes succeed in and out of the classroom."
According to Associate Athletic Director for Academic Advancement Sarah Kelly, Club Sports student-athletes have now raised their cumulative GPA for the last six semesters in a row — from 3.34 (Fall 2023), 3.35 (Spring 2024), 3.37 (Fall 2024), 3.40 (Spring 2025), 3.43 (Fall 2025), to 3.47 (Spring 2026).
"I started the Club Sports Academic department in Fall 2015, and that semester we had a 2.78 GPA as Club Sports with just over 500 athletes, so we've come a long way," she said, noting more than 700 student-athletes were enrolled at the start of the Fall 2025 semester.
Club Sports Athletic Director Kirk Handy called the growth of the department "unbelievable" Â and the continued upward trajectory of academic as well as athletic success achieved by its student-athletes commendable.
"I am super proud of our coaches and our student-athletes and our staff who did an excellent job facilitating an environment where our students can grow, learn, and receive support," he said.
That support includes academic mentoring and tutoring provided by the Academic Advancement staff, spearheaded out of the LaHaye Ice Center as well as a Club Sports study hall located in the former Reber-Thomas Dining Hall near the Academic Lawn.
"They try to empower everyone on the scale to achieve their academic goals," Handy said. "They come alongside the student-athletes and help them achieve what they believe is God's plan for their lives."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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