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University of Houston Athletics
Softball Achieves Highest Team GPA in Program History
1/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 11, 2012
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball program achieved the team's highest average GPA (3.54) in the history of the program during the fall semester of 2011.
"I am so proud of this group, they are very special," said head coach Kyla Holas. "This is the second time so far this fall that they have set their goals higher than anyone before [offseason training and conditioning] and met them. I hope that they remember how tough and focused they can be and use this to make this season more successful than ever."
Eleven members of the program reached the Dean's List and two achieved 4.0 GPAs. The tally of 4.0 students could be even higher but the University of Houston is on the A- system and several student-athletes received all A's but received an A-minus. Almost the softball equivalent of a bunt in the late innings to disrupt a perfect game.
Jennifer Klinkert, who was named to the All-America Scholar Athletes Team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association after her standout junior season on the diamond and in the classroom last season, was one of those students who achieved perfection in the classroom.
Not only did Klinkert grade out to a 4.0 but she completed her bachelor's degree in nutrition while interning inside the Department of Athletics with sports dietician Tara Boening, one of the only full-time nutritionists in the conference.
The team also passed an average of 15.2 credit hours in their offseason.
The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) within the department of intercollegiate athletics at UH has been instrumental with the record-breaking GPAs that have been achieved by multiple sports teams in recent years.
Lori Selzer, an assistant director for ACE, has been with the softball program for several years played a large part in helping with the softball team's academics.
"I'll say the same thing I've always said - it's all them, it's not me," said Selzer. "They come to me when there's issue but with these girls, there's hardly ever issues. The support system the coaching staff has in place is a huge reason why they're succeeding in the classroom, and on the field as well. We have a great system in place to succeed in studies and that's because we have great student-athletes, coaching staffs and support structure."
UP NEXT
The softball team returned to practice yesterday, Jan. 10, and will continue preseason practice until the season kicks off with the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic at Cougar Softball Stadium on Feb. 10. First pitch for the UH softball team is against North Texas at 3 p.m.
