Charlotte, NC – The NJCAA has announced the 2019-20 Academic Teams of the Year. Despite an academic year that was interrupted due to COVID-19, NJCAA student-athletes flourished in the classroom as 1,026 teams earned at least a 3.0 GPA or better.
27 programs from across the country earned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year honors after achieving the highest GPA in their respective sport throughout the academic year.
Daytona State (FL) continued to set the standard among NJCAA Baseball programs as the Falcons recorded the highest GPA among all teams for the ninth consecutive year, and 13th in the last 14 seasons, with a 3.85 mark. Along with the Falcons, the Iowa Central men's bowling team, El Paso (TX) men's half marathon, Monroe (NY) women's indoor and outdoor track and field teams, and the Pratt wrestling team were all repeat winners from the 2018-19 year.
Emory Oxford (GA) earned an NJCAA-best three Academic Team of the Year recipients in its women's golf, men's basketball, and men's soccer programs. Iowa Central, Monroe (NY), Jones (MS), and Barton (KS) each earned a pair of Academic Teams of the Year.
While teams across the nation performed exceptionally well in the classroom, three programs combined their academic success and athletic accomplishments. El Paso men's half marathon, Iowa Central women's half marathon, and Iowa Central women's bowling all claimed national championships during the year while earning NJCAA Academic Team of the Year recognition.
For the first time, NJCAA Beach Volleyball was awarded an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year as Lake-Sumter State (FL), in its first season of competition, achieved a 3.44 team GPA to top all programs.
To see a full list of all programs who achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher, visit: NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year
| NJCAA MEN'S ACADEMIC TEAMS OF THE YEAR | |||
| Sport | College | GPA | |
| Baseball | Daytona State (FL) | 3.85 | |
| Basketball | Emory Oxford (GA) | 3.54 | |
| Bowling | Herkimer (NY) | 3.44 | |
| Cross Country | Hawkeye (IA) | 3.85 | |
| Football | East Mississippi | 3.07 | |
| Golf | McCook (NE) | 3.67 | |
| Half Marathon | El Paso (TX) | 3.68 | |
| Indoor Track & Field | Southern Idaho | 3.40 | |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Paradise Valley (AZ) | 3.44 | |
| Soccer | Emory Oxford (GA) | 3.63 | |
| Swimming & Diving | Barton (KS) | 3.28 | |
| Tennis | Jones (MS) | 3.64 | |
| Wrestling | Pratt (KS) | 3.21 | |
| NJCAA WOMEN'S ACADEMIC TEAMS OF THE YEAR | |||
| Sport | College | GPA | |
| Basketball | Odessa (TX) | 3.85 | |
| Bowling | Iowa Central | 3.49 | |
| Cross Country | Redlands (OK) | 3.79 | |
| Golf | Emory Oxford (GA) | 3.86 | |
| Half Marathon | Iowa Central | 3.40 | |
| Indoor Track and Field | Monroe (NY) | 3.54 | |
| Lacrosse | Ocean County (NJ) | 3.50 | |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Monroe (NY) | 3.54 | |
| Soccer | Jones (MS) | 3.72 | |
| Softball | Wabash Valley (IL) | 3.71 | |
| Swimming & Diving | Fashion Institute (NY) | 3.61 | |
| Tennis | East Central (MS) | 3.81 | |
| Volleyball (Beach) | Lake-Sumter State (FL) | 3.44 | |
| Volleyball (Court) | Barton (KS) | 3.84 | |
*The 2019-20 NJCAA All-Academic Individual Student-Athletes will be announced on Friday, July 10.