TEMPE - The Arizona State women's soccer team competed in the classroom this offseason as the 24 student-athletes enrolled in Spring 2020 achieved the third-highest semester GPA in the last 12 years of program history.
Amid the chaos and unknown of a pandemic that disrupted routines and required virtual learning, the 2020-21 squad achieved a 3.57 GPA – proof that the perseverance and determination taught by head coach Graham Winkworth and staff on the pitch transfers brilliantly to academic success.
"Our team GPA is extremely telling of our dedication and discipline. We hold each other accountable, and we are students before we are athletes," said senior Taylor Culver, who achieved one of the top spring GPAs while simultaneously studying for the LSAT and working as an intern at a local law firm.
Culver's roommates, juniors Olivia Nguyen and Julia Koharko, also earned team-leading GPAs this spring. Culver credits the trio's commitment and like-minded prioritization of academics as drivers for their success while describing sitting around the dinner table together doing homework for hours.
Nguyen agreed with Culver that her teammates turned roommates served as accountability partners, but her virtual learning tip? Keep the same schedule and work on classwork and homework during the regularly scheduled pre-quarantine class time.
"I was fortunate to have understanding professors who were willing to work with us… I also have the best roommates, and we would do homework together every night. That made me accountable for getting my work done," Nguyen concluded.
Across the Atlantic, midfielder and another GPA leader, Eva Van Deursen, adjusted to her newfound quarantine routine in the Netherlands.
"I have to say that during the time I have been home, it was pretty challenging in the beginning because I couldn't find my flow or routine right away, especially with the time difference," Van Deursen admitted. "After a couple of weeks, I managed to have the same schedule every week of working on schoolwork every morning and practicing on my own in the afternoon."
Van Deursen was already across the pond playing at a tournament in Spain with the Netherlands' national team when the pandemic escalated. After the tournament, Van Deursen returned home with the team as the United States closed its borders - cutting off a return to Tempe for the immediate future.
"After adjusting through the first couple of weeks, everyone was happy that we could be home safe," Van Deursen commented. "I stayed in contact with my teammates, and that helped me a lot to know that we were all in the same situation."
Twelve years ago, the Spring 2008 group set the standard for the highest recorded semester GPA in recent program history at 3.68.
The spring 2020 group includes nine sophomores, 11 juniors, and four seniors of the 2020-21 class. Six of the 24 student-athletes are in Barrett, The Honors College.
Follow along with Sun Devil Soccer and its student-athletes on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the username @SunDevilSoccer.
Amid the chaos and unknown of a pandemic that disrupted routines and required virtual learning, the 2020-21 squad achieved a 3.57 GPA – proof that the perseverance and determination taught by head coach Graham Winkworth and staff on the pitch transfers brilliantly to academic success.
"Our team GPA is extremely telling of our dedication and discipline. We hold each other accountable, and we are students before we are athletes," said senior Taylor Culver, who achieved one of the top spring GPAs while simultaneously studying for the LSAT and working as an intern at a local law firm.
Perseverance and determination - taught on the pitch and used to excel in the classroom. In Spring 2020, our team achieved the third-highest semester GPA in over a decade ??
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) June 29, 2020
?? >> https://t.co/kzD3a5pwCY pic.twitter.com/SpqUxHunUS
Culver's roommates, juniors Olivia Nguyen and Julia Koharko, also earned team-leading GPAs this spring. Culver credits the trio's commitment and like-minded prioritization of academics as drivers for their success while describing sitting around the dinner table together doing homework for hours.
Nguyen agreed with Culver that her teammates turned roommates served as accountability partners, but her virtual learning tip? Keep the same schedule and work on classwork and homework during the regularly scheduled pre-quarantine class time.
"I was fortunate to have understanding professors who were willing to work with us… I also have the best roommates, and we would do homework together every night. That made me accountable for getting my work done," Nguyen concluded.
Across the Atlantic, midfielder and another GPA leader, Eva Van Deursen, adjusted to her newfound quarantine routine in the Netherlands.
"I have to say that during the time I have been home, it was pretty challenging in the beginning because I couldn't find my flow or routine right away, especially with the time difference," Van Deursen admitted. "After a couple of weeks, I managed to have the same schedule every week of working on schoolwork every morning and practicing on my own in the afternoon."
Van Deursen was already across the pond playing at a tournament in Spain with the Netherlands' national team when the pandemic escalated. After the tournament, Van Deursen returned home with the team as the United States closed its borders - cutting off a return to Tempe for the immediate future.
"After adjusting through the first couple of weeks, everyone was happy that we could be home safe," Van Deursen commented. "I stayed in contact with my teammates, and that helped me a lot to know that we were all in the same situation."
Twelve years ago, the Spring 2008 group set the standard for the highest recorded semester GPA in recent program history at 3.68.
The spring 2020 group includes nine sophomores, 11 juniors, and four seniors of the 2020-21 class. Six of the 24 student-athletes are in Barrett, The Honors College.
Follow along with Sun Devil Soccer and its student-athletes on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the username @SunDevilSoccer.