Wednesday night wasn’t just about what happened on the court during Cincinnati’s women’s basketball matchup with Baylor - it was also a celebration of excellence beyond the hardwood. In a tradition that’s become as much a part of Bearcats athletics as the games themselves, the university honored its student-athletes who continue to raise the bar in the classroom.
Cincinnati’s athletic department posted a collective GPA of 3.5414 for the fall semester - the highest in school history. And here’s the kicker: this marks the third straight semester the Bearcats have broken their own academic record. That’s not a fluke - it’s a culture.
To put it in perspective, 87 percent of UC student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 GPA. That’s not just impressive - it’s a new program record.
And it extends a streak that speaks volumes: 35 consecutive grading periods with a department-wide GPA of 3.0 or higher. Even more eye-popping?
The last 16 have been above a 3.3, and six of those topped 3.4. Sustained academic success like that doesn’t happen by accident - it’s built on discipline, support, and a relentless drive to excel.
And for some Bearcats, “excellent” doesn’t cut it - they were perfect. A total of 57 student-athletes posted a 4.0 GPA, and they represent nearly every corner of UC Athletics.
Let’s take a moment to recognize them:
Football
- Kamron Neal
Men’s Basketball
- Bryson Buckingham
- Grant Darbyshire
Baseball
- Tommy Boba
- Scott DiMarco
- Joel Pineiro
Swimming and Diving
- JoAnn Adler
- Joleigh Crye
- Sophie Curtis
- Mia Hensley
- Ashley Kara
- Kate Mardis
- Lauren Melia
- Libby Michel
- Michelle Morgan
- Langely Petersen
- Ellie Schrank
- Sophie Schuetze
- Lindi Worrell
- Aiden Gerst
- Benson Wong
Women’s Tennis
- Tara Kurepa
- Milica Popovski
Women’s Soccer
- Jenna Daveler
- Emma Gioffre
- Carly Oubs
- Claire Rea
- Coley Sidloski
Volleyball
- Izzy Busignani
- Lilian Entenmann
- Carly Glendinning
- Ava Ledebuhr
- Paige Pickering
- Tasha Simeunovic
- Gia Williams
Women’s Lacrosse
- Shea Graham
- Ally Keith
- Gigi Kurelko
- Ava LaRuffa
- Haley Mario
- Chloe Page
- Brooke Peck
- Paige Selhorn
- Caroline Soller
- Lilly Stelzer
- Amanda Sweeney
Cross Country
- Claire Curtsinger
- Mia Heine
- Mackenzie Steele
- Seth Elking
Track & Field
- Juliette Laracuente-Huebner
- Mallory Mullen
- Tosin Ayodeji
- Ryan Jones
This kind of academic performance is the result of a full-team effort - from the athletes themselves to coaches, academic advisors, and support staff who make sure the grind in the classroom gets just as much attention as the grind in the weight room.
In an era where athletic prowess often takes the spotlight, Cincinnati is showing that brains and hustle can go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s game day or exam day, these Bearcats are proving they know how to show up and deliver.