NEW ORLEANS – The College of Charleston cross country teams have earned spots on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic squads for the 2023 season.

To qualify for the list, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 through the most recent grading period. The Cougar women have a combined GPA of 3.74 while the men boast a 3.63 average.

Rhian Purves continued her remarkable academic career by turning in a 4.0 GPA in her first semester as a graduate student as did Grace McGrew and Maeve Gimbert. Senior Abbey Arnett and junior Sophia Brown also had perfect fall semesters.

The women have six athletes with GPAs above 3.6 and at least 50 undergraduate credits earned. That list includes Brown (3.99), sophomore Cayden Crismon (3.89), Arnett (3.86), senior Hannah Wise (3.84), sophomore Andie Harding (3.65) and senior Shannon Smith (3.62).

Junior Dylan McTigue has the top cumulative GPA among undergraduates with at least three semesters at 3.85 followed by sophomore Joshua Silverman (3.81) and senior Jackson Reid (3.54). 

Several freshmen enjoyed outstanding first semesters in the classroom, with Kyle Nitsche recording a 4.0 GPA. Rob DiMedio and Andrew Fielding both had 3.94 averages, and Evan Mitchell turned in a 3.92 fall semester.