The latest grade point average report for University of Montana student-athletes and teams came out this week, and the news is better than ever for the Grizzlies.

UM athletes – 296 in all – posted a 3.06 cumulative GPA for the fall 2009 semester compared to an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.89.

The 3.06 athletes’ GPA is, according to the report, the best ever for UM student-athletes.

Women’s golf and soccer and men’s cross country led the way with team GPAs of 3.43, 3.32 and 3.31 respectively. Others ranking near the top were women’s basketball at 3.29, women’s track and field at 3.24, and women’s cross country at 3.23.

Perhaps the only disturbing thing about the report is the continued dominance of women’s and Olympic – or so-called minor – sports teams. It would be nice to see men’s basketball and football up there near the top, although the sheer numbers of folks make it especially difficult for football.

All in all, though, the report shows that the emphasis on academics for UM athletes, and the ongoing monitoring of their performance in the classroom, continues to pay off.

- Bill Schwanke