WINONA, Minn. — Excellence in the classroom continues to define Saint Mary's University athletics.
Saint Mary's student-athletes posted a 3.49 combined GPA during the 2025 Fall semester, marking the 12th consecutive semester with a departmental GPA of 3.30 or higher. Every Cardinal athletic team recorded a GPA above 3.0, underscoring the department's continued commitment to putting academics first.
Leading the way academically, Saint Mary's volleyball finished with the highest women's team GPA at 3.66, while men's hockey topped all men's teams with an impressive 3.72.
"Having the highest female team GPA in our athletic department is a reflection of the discipline, commitment, and character of this team," said head volleyball coach Amber Zitzow. "I'm incredibly proud of the way our student-athletes prioritize excellence in the classroom while competing at the high level."
The Cardinals also maintained their strong performance in cumulative academics, finishing the Fall semester with a 3.44 cumulative team GPA. This achievement extends another milestone, as Saint Mary's has now recorded a 3.30 or higher cumulative GPA for 10 straight semesters.
"Our student-athletes at Saint Mary's are a true testament of student first," said Director of Athletics Brian Sisson. "Another record semester. We congratulate them all on their efforts. In addition, we thank and honor the overall impact our university faculty and staff and our athletic coaches and staff have on them and always placing the utmost importance on academics."
"We are proud of our team's outstanding academic achievement," said head men's hockey coach Ryan Egan. "Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence will pay dividends well beyond today.
The sustained academic success reflects the University's student-first philosophy, where athletic participation complements and not compromises classroom achievement.
With consistent excellence across all teams and semesters, Saint Mary's student-athletes continue to set the standard for academic achievement while representing the Cardinal tradition in and out of the season.
