Completed Event: Softball at Utah State on March 28, 2026 , Win , 10, to, 1
Softball
at Utah State
W 10-1
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Darryl Webb
Lopes Earn Second-Highest GPA in Division I Softball
10/23/2015 1:27:00 PM | Softball, S-A Development
PHOENIX -- The Grand Canyon softball team continues to reap the rewards of hard work in the classroom as the Lopes received word recently that they had the second-highest team grade-point average among any Division I program during the 2014-15 academic year.Â
According to information released last week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the Lopes' GPA of 3.640 trailed only the combined total of Lipscomb, which led DI with a team 3.645 GPA. The honor came on the heels of learning GCU's total of 14 NFCA Scholar-Athletes last season was the third-highest in Division I.
For the Lopes, the expectation of success in the classroom is just as high as that of winning on the field. Camree Wartman, a junior second baseman who is majoring in communications, said the coaching staff stresses the importance of academics starting during the recruiting process. It never lets up from there.Â
"When we're recruited, we know we're coming here to be students and athletes, not just athletes," Wartman said. "Coach Pierson emphasizes academics and always talks about the three hats we have to wear -- showing character, being the best athlete we can, but No. 1 is focusing on being awesome students."
Wartman added that the hard work leads to greater accountability within the team. "As a team, [having good grades] is fun for us and a competition because we want to show people that we strive to win championships in the classroom and on the field," she said.
Along with the coaches, Wartman noted that the academic support staff play a large role in the team earning accolades.
"We have crazy schedules with class, workouts, games and everything else, but our academics staff is always there to help us," Wartman said. "Tutoring is always available and they do weekly, one-on-one check-ins not just about our grades, but to get to know us personally. It also keeps us accountable because they're always checking on us and there to help."
Â
According to information released last week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the Lopes' GPA of 3.640 trailed only the combined total of Lipscomb, which led DI with a team 3.645 GPA. The honor came on the heels of learning GCU's total of 14 NFCA Scholar-Athletes last season was the third-highest in Division I.
For the Lopes, the expectation of success in the classroom is just as high as that of winning on the field. Camree Wartman, a junior second baseman who is majoring in communications, said the coaching staff stresses the importance of academics starting during the recruiting process. It never lets up from there.Â
"When we're recruited, we know we're coming here to be students and athletes, not just athletes," Wartman said. "Coach Pierson emphasizes academics and always talks about the three hats we have to wear -- showing character, being the best athlete we can, but No. 1 is focusing on being awesome students."
Wartman added that the hard work leads to greater accountability within the team. "As a team, [having good grades] is fun for us and a competition because we want to show people that we strive to win championships in the classroom and on the field," she said.
Along with the coaches, Wartman noted that the academic support staff play a large role in the team earning accolades.
"We have crazy schedules with class, workouts, games and everything else, but our academics staff is always there to help us," Wartman said. "Tutoring is always available and they do weekly, one-on-one check-ins not just about our grades, but to get to know us personally. It also keeps us accountable because they're always checking on us and there to help."
Â
|  Top 10 Division I  Academic Teams | ||
| Rank | School | GPA |
| 1. | Lipscomb | 3.645 |
| 2. | Grand Canyon | 3.640 |
| DePaul | 3.640 | |
| 4. | Southern Illinois | 3.619 |
| 5. | Harvard | 3.595 |
| 6. | Wagner | 3.583 |
| 7. | Saint Francis (Pa.) | 3.551 |
| 8. | UT Martin | 3.578 |
| 9. | Eastern Michigan | 3.518 |
| 10. | Kent State | 3.51 |
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