WORCESTER, Mass. - In celebration of the NCAA's Division III Week, the Worcester State University Athletic Department is honoring the academic achievements of its student-athletes so far in the 2019-20 season.

Fifteen of Worcester State's 20 varsity athletic teams achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, including all 11 women's teams. Women's golf had the highest cumulative grade point average at 3.60 as a team, while men's golf was the highest men's team at 3.34. 

As a whole, Worcester State student-athletes posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.20, the highest GPA in recent history, with 251 total student-athletes achieving grade point averages of 3.20 or higher. 

Worcester State led the conference with 209 honorees on the MASCAC's Fall/Winter All-Academic Team. All 15 Worcester State fall and winter sports were represented on the team. The women's cross country team had the highest percentage of its roster earn the honor, as 95 percent of the team was recognized. 

Twelve student-athletes, representing the field hockey and women's tennis teams, also earned All-Academic Team honors from the Little East Conference, while an additional 12 were named to the LEC's Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Thirty-five Worcester State student-athletes earned induction into Chi Alpha Sigma this spring, the national student-athlete honor society. The group joins 21 inductees from a year ago, bringing Worcester State's Chi Alpha Sigma total to 56 student-athletes. To be eligible for the honor society, student-athletes of junior or senior status must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.40.

The LEC Champion field hockey team was named a recipient of the Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA National Academic Team Award, while nine Lancers were named to the Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad.

Football senior Anthony Casparriello (Westborough, Mass.) was named the recipient of the Joseph R. Mewhiney Central Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award last month.

"Our student-athletes have worked extremely hard to impress not only in competition, but in their coursework as well," said Worcester State Director of Athletics Michael Mudd. "We are proud to represent Division III, where the emphasis is truly on the student before the athlete."

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