Sports
Northridge Athletes Honored For Academic Achievement
Two Cal State Northridge teams are among the best in their sport academically, according to the NCAA.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Cal State Northridge men's and women's cross-country teams were honored Wednesday by the NCAA for outstanding academic achievements among the best in their sport.
The team's earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards for having multiyear Academic Progress Rate scores in the top 10 percent of their sport, the NCAA announced Wednesday.
Nine teams from Pepperdine, six from USC, five from Long Beach State and four from UCLA and were also among 1,328 NCAA Division I teams recognized Wednesday for outstanding academic achievements. The total number of teams being recognized increased by 44 from a year ago, largely as a result of an increase in perfect scores, according to the NCAA.
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Academic Progress Rate was created by the NCAA in 2004 in an effort to more accurately measure student-athletes' progress and improve graduation rates. It is used to determine penalties for academically underperforming athletic programs.
The rate is a four-year average of academic performance that rewards student-athletes for remaining eligible as well as continuing education at the same school.
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Every player receiving an athletic scholarship earns one retention point for staying in school and one eligibility point for being academically eligible. A team's total points are divided by points possible and then multiplied by 1,000 to determine the Academic Progress Rate.
Teams must meet a threshold of 930 to qualify for postseason play and can face penalties for continued low academic performance.
The Pepperdine teams honored were men's cross-country, track and field and volleyball and women's cross-country, golf, sand volleyball, swimming and diving, track and field and volleyball.
The USC teams honored were men's golf, track and field and volleyball and women's cross-country, golf and sand volleyball.
The Long Beach State teams honored were men's water polo and women's cross-country, golf, sand volleyball and track and field.
The UCLA teams honored were men's cross country and volleyball and women's golf and sand volleyball.
The Loyola Marymount University men's golf and water polo teams and the women's swimming and diving were also honored.
City News Service