Peru State 23rd in NAIA academically
For the first time in many years, the Peru State women's basketball team is among the Top 25 listed in the NAIA.
By News Channel NebraskaPERU - Western Illinois University, Tiffin University, Shenandoah University, Indiana Institute of Technology and Snow College sit atop their respective divisions in the 2018-19 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls announced today by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
For the first time in many years, the Peru State women's basketball team is among the Top 25 listed in the NAIA. Head Coach Joan Albury's team finished 23rd in its division with a 3.490 team cumulative grade point average.
The Bobcats are just one of three Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) programs on the Top 25 list. Heart opponent Grand View (Iowa) finished eighth while Culver-Stockton (Mo.) finished 25th. Non-conference opponent Concordia (Seward) finished ahead of Peru State at 20th.
Members of the Peru State women's basketball team this past season whose grades were a part of recognition were: Allison Tichy (Bellevue), Keaundra Washington(Omaha), Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.), Brooke Maeda (Honolulu), Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil), Anjanea Simms (St. Louis, Mo.), Maria Alcantara (Recife, Brazil), Beth Hall (Graceville, Fla.), Leslie Kirkland (Bakersfield, Calif./Rock Port, Mo.), Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Bellevue), Lauren Beath (Bakersfield, Calif.), Swaranga Fernando (Colombo, Sri Lanka), Jordan Salas (Winfield, Kan.), and Daspin Bruning (Everest, Kan.).
Coach Albury was very pleased to receive the news on Tuesday. She stated, "Being a student-athlete is very demanding at whatever level you are playing. For the entire team to have a 3.49 cumulative gpa is tremendous." Continuing Albury added, "I am very proud of this group as they worked hard to improve both in the classroom and on the court. We will have a continued goal to be a part of the Top 25 again next year."
Western Illinois, coached by JD Gravina, finished first among NCAA Division I members with a 3.767 cumulative team grade-point average. Tiffin, coached by Jessie Ivey, led NCAA Division II members with a 3.809 GPA. Shenandoah, coached by Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft, took top honors in NCAA Division III with a 3.764 GPA. Indiana Tech, coached by Jessie Biggs, was No. 1 in the NAIA division with a 3.817 GPA. And Snow, coached by Mike Russell, led all two-year college members with a 3.712 GPA.
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2018-19 season is the 24th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
"The WBCA is pleased to recognize those women's basketball programs that have committed themselves to excellence on the court and in the classroom," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "The 117 teams we honor this year strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts. Congratulations!"
Finishing fourth in the two-year college list was Frank Phillips (Texas) which is coached by Peru State alumni Eric Rodewald. A 2004 graduate, Rodewald is a native of Wymore and attended Southern High School.
The following 2018-19 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls by division. The head coach listed for each institution was its head coach during the 2018-19 season.
NAIA
| Rank | Institution | Head Coach | GPA |
| 1 | Indiana Institute of Technology | Jessie Biggs | 3.817 |
| 2 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) | Michael Trujillo | 3.718 |
| 3 | Taylor University | Jody Martinez | 3.705 |
| 4 | Huntington University | Lori Culler | 3.699 |
| 5 | St. Ambrose University | Krista Van Hauen | 3.697 |
| 6 | Mount Marty College | Todd James Schlimgen | 3.692 |
| 7 | Cardinal Stritch University | John Pfaffl | 3.690 |
| 8 | Grand View University | Kelli Greenway | 3.689 |
| 9 | Lawrence Technological University | Kylene Biggs | 3.633 |
| 10 | Hannibal-LaGrange University | Kelly Quigle | 3.621 |
| 11 | Shawnee State University | Jeff Nickel | 3.615 |
| 12 | University of Pikeville | Clifton Williams | 3.613 |
| 13 | Northwestern College | Chris Yaw | 3.607 |
| 14 | Olivet Nazarene University | Lauren Glenn | 3.601 |
| 15 | The College of Idaho | Janis Beal | 3.599 |
| 16 | University of Rio Grande | David Smalley | 3.595 |
| 17 | Blue Mountain College | Lavon Driskell | 3.565 |
| 18 | The University of Montana Western | Lindsay Woolley | 3.557 |
| 19 | Faulkner University | Reed Sutton | 3.552 |
| 20 | Concordia University (Neb.) | Drew Olson | 3.551 |
| T22 | Mid-America Christian University | Hannah Moeller | 3.532 |
| T22 | Milligan College | Richard Aubrey | 3.532 |
| 23 | Peru State College | Joan Albury | 3.490 |
| 24 | Columbia College | Taylor Possail | 3.487 |
| 25 | Culver-Stockton College | Janette Burgin | 3.466 |
A team's GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) earned by the total number of academic hours attempted by all team members in the academic terms (semesters or quarters) that the season spans. Weighted grades are converted to a 4.0 scale. The GPAs are rounded to the nearest thousandth of a point. Teams are nominated for the honor by the WBCA member head coach. A team must have a 3.000 or better GPA to be nominated.
About the Women's Basketball Coaches Association
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.