GC ranks 22nd in NCAA, 2nd in PBC

ked 22nd among NCAA Division II schools in the National Collegiate Scouting Association, Inc. Collegiate Power Rankings. The Bobcats edged up one spot from last year.

The rankings look at the academic and athletic standards of all NCAA athletic programs across the country. The rankings are calculated by averaging student-athlete graduation rates, academic ratings provided by U.S. News & World Report, and the strength of athletic departments as determined by the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup.

“When you look at those three areas, our academic reputation speaks for itself,” Athletic Director Wendell Staton said. “The student athletes come here and they’re motivated to do well academically and they have a system in place that allows them to do that and a caring faculty and staff that can provide that environment.”

The rankings help prospective student athletes and their families evaluate the strength of different athletic departments as a whole.

“It’s all about being well-rounded,” Staton said. “This is a classic example of the right balance between academics and athletics.”

GC was ranked second among Peach Belt Conference schools, behind only No. 16 Flagler College. The next closest school was No. 45 Columbus State University.

“There’s only three schools from the Peach Belt Conference that are in it,” tennis coach and Assistant Athletic Director Steve Barsby said. “For us to sell Milledgeville and the school and the total environment, I use it all the time in recruiting.”

This ranking helps show potential athletic recruits that GC wants their student athletes to succeed academically as well as being successful in their respective sport.

“We make it a priority; that’s number one for us,” Barsby said. “If they don’t graduate, then we didn’t serve them right or do anything for them.”

Being ranked No. 22 helps make GC more appealing to prospective students athletes.

“I think anytime you’re recognized for this type of excellence it’s a selling point for our university. It’s a point of pride,” Staton said. “It’s an overall reflection of the quality of the university.”

The rankings reflect positively on both the coaches the department and the caliber of the students that GC attracts.

“I think it’s a really positive thing for the athletic department. It’s a great honor to be ranked so high, ” head volleyball coach Gretchen Krumdieck said. “It’s a testament to all us coaches and the athletic department that we’re finding those quality student athletes to carry on this tradition that we’ve tried to build and worked so hard towards.”

Staton believes that being honored by the NCSA Athletic Recruiting is another testament to the strengths of GC.

“This ranking is consistent with all of the national rankings that our university gets in general,” Staton said. “It’s just a reflection of the university and the great job that our faculty and staff do and the great job that our student athletes do and the coaches who get them here.”

Posted by Ally Maisano on Oct 25 2012. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.