LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - Rider University Athletics enjoyed tremendous success in the classroom in the 2019-20 academic year, with 18 of 20 varsity athletic teams earning a team grade-point average of over 3.0. Highlighting the academic achievement were 162 student-athletes being named Academic All-Conference. Rider's female student-athletes posted a 3.40 GPA, while the male student-athletes combined on a 3.18 GPA.
 
"This past academic year, Rider University student-athletes once again performed at a high level in the classroom and in competition," said Dr. AJ Moore, Rider's Faculty Athletics Representative. "On an annual basis, the coaches, administrators and academic support staff demonstrate that the university is committed to fostering an environment that enables student-athletes the opportunity to find success both academically and athletically, not one at the expense of the other. In the spring when athletics and the traditional college experience came to an unexpected halt, coaches and administrators played the vital roles of leaders and educators helping student-athletes maintain their academic performance during a period of disappointment and uncertainty."

Rider had 144 varsity athletes from 18 teams named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll for having a 3.2 or better grade point average. The Rider Field Hockey Team placed 16 student-athletes on the NEC Academic Honor Roll, which carries the same 3.2 GPA criteria. Rider's 20th sport, wrestling, had two of its athletes honored on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team for having competed in 50 percent of the team's competitions and compiling a 3.2 GPA or better, while two more were recognized on the national level as National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans for having either a 3.0 cumulative GPA and being a 2020 NCAA Qualifier -or- having a 3.2 cumulative GPA and winning 60 percent of their total matches, while competing in at least 60 percent of their team's schedule.
 
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognized both the men's and women's teams with the distinction of Scholar All-America team, while The College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) awarded Scholar All-American recognition to both men's and women's swimming & diving teams. This is the 10th-straight year these teams have been honored with this distinction.
 
"When the traditional learning environment came to an abrupt halt, our student-athletes pushed though," said Rider Athletics' Academic Coordinator, Sonya Hurt. "They used modern technology to the fullest and we had a great semester. I am so proud of them."

The Rider University field hockey team was also recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) for maintaining a team GPA of over 3.0. This is the ninth-straight year this team has been honored with this distinction.
 
Rider's women's volleyball program also earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Academic Award for the fifth year in a row, representative of a 3.30 or higher team GPA.
 
The men's and women's tennis teams also earned NCAA Public Recognition for their Academic Progress Rate. The honor was the men's team's fifth straight.
 
In addition, the men's soccer earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the seventh-straight year. The women's team posted a GPA high enough to qualify for the award for the 12^th-straight year.