NCAA honors academic excellence
For the 10th year in a row, SPU received the
NCAA DII President’s Award for Academic
Excellence, which recognizes a four-year
academic success rate of 90% or higher.
The rate measures the number of student athletes
who earn degrees within six years
of enrollment; SPU’s rate was 94%. Seattle
Pacific is one of only 10 schools that has
received the award each year the honor has
been presented.
Sports took an extended COVID-19 hiatus
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference
canceled all conference-directed schedules
through March 2021. However, in January, SPU
created schedules comprising local and
in-state competition for men’s and women’s
basketball, soccer, and track and field, as
well as women’s volleyball and rowing. Falcon
athletes practiced and competed while
following NCAA, state, and county guidelines.
All athletes, coaches, and staff were frequently
screened and tested for COVID-19, and
competitions were played without spectators.
Falcon athletic teams excel in
spring competitions
Spring was unusually busy for the Falcons,
as the fall sports of men’s and women’s
soccer, and women’s volleyball, were in
action along with the usual spring schedules
for outdoor track and field, and women’s
rowing. The women’s track team won its third
straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference
championship, along with titles in 11 of
the 21 individual events. Women’s rowing
finished second in the first-ever GNAC regatta.
The women’s soccer team put together an
undefeated record of 8-0-1 and was ranked
No. 7 nationally. SPU’s men went 3-2-1
in their six soccer games. The Falcons
racked up an 11-7 volleyball record that
included two victories apiece against rivals
Central Washington University and Western
Washington University.