The life of a student-athlete is one of constant balance between athletics and academics. In addition to attending classes, finishing homework assignments, and studying for exams and tests, student-athletes also have to balance a rigorous practice schedule with accounting for home games and traveling for road games. Therefore, these student athletes’ academic achievements do not go unnoticed. Over the past year, Drexel student-athletes have gained considerable attention for their academic achievements.
The Drexel wrestling team was announced by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) as having earned the eighth highest grade point average in the NCAA Division I during the 2024 – 2025 season. The team averaged a 3.562 GPA – the highest of all the EIWA squads. This is not the first time the team has done this, as the Dragons have finished with the top GPA in the nation in 2019, 2020, and 2023. Furthermore, Drexel ended as a NWCA DI Top 30 All-Academic Team for the last 12 seasons. Additionally, four individual Dragons were recently named as NWCA Scholar All-Americans. All nominees were evaluated based upon meeting one of the following criteria: Top 8 and 3.00 GPA, National Qualifier and 3.2 GPA, conference qualifier and 3.5 GPA, or 15 matches with 60% win record and 3.5 GPA. Wrestlers Giuseppe Hoose, Mickey O’Malley, Desmond Pleasant, and Kyle Waterman were recognized for their academic achievements by being awarded this title.
Outside of wrestling, many other Drexel teams have had their athletes awarded for their stellar academic achievements. Lacrosse player Jenika Cuocco was named Drexel’s Coastal Athletic Association Female Scholar Athlete. Cuocco was named the 2023 and 2024 CAA Goalie of the Year, as well as receiving All-American honors from USA Lacrosse, IWLCA, and Inside Lacrosse. Outside of her on-field hardware, she has been a CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient for four years. She was also named the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer of the Year in her redshirt freshman campaign, as well as receiving an All-Area Team selection last season.
Patrick Short of the Drexel men’s soccer team was named Drexel’s Coastal Athletic Association’s Male-Scholar Athlete. Short was named the CAA’s Co-Midfielder of the Year and to the All-CAA First Team, the first Drexel Dragon to do so in both occasions. Additionally, he was named to the SCS Academic All-America First Team, the second Drexel men’s soccer player to earn this accomplishment.
Ten members of Drexel’s squash team were named Academic All-MASC (Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference) by the conference. This included six members of the men’s squash team: Fritiof Jacobsson, Yuri Pelbart, Darien Benn, Haris Qasim, Shomari Wiltshire, Tavneet Mundra and four members of the women’s squash team: Claudia Adam, Maddie Laine, Ariyan Irani, Raya Singh.
Several Drexel athletes have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, as announced by the organization. To be eligible for this achievement a student-athlete must be of a sophomore academic standing or higher, with a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA, while also being a key member of the team. From Drexel’s women’s swimming and diving team, athletes Federica Nocera, Mari Alencar, and Megan Ehrnfeldt were all awarded with this achievement. Additionally, Drexel men’s swimming and diving team members Jakub Kwasny, Kacper Karnik, and Alessio Gianni were announced with this award. Outside of swimming and diving, Drexel basketball players Chloe Hodges and Grace O’Neill were also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.
Student-athletes have been praised for their success in the court, field, lane, or wherever they may be competing. However, their achievements within the classroom are often just as important. As these athletes continue to impress with their successes in both worlds, the recognition of their accomplishments in the classroom merit just as much applause as their athletic achievements.