TRINIDAD, Colo. – The NJCAA recently announced the 2020-21 Academic Teams of the Year.  820 teams across the association earned at least a 3.0 GPA or better to be named on the list including nine of Trinidad State's teams.

The TSC Beach Volleyball team led the way, with the Trojans joining 27 programs from across the country who earned top NJCAA Academic Team of the Year sport honors, achieving the highest GPA throughout the academic year in Beach Volleyball. Trinidad finished with a 3.80 GPA, topping South Mountain who came in at 3.61. The Trojan Beach squad consisted of Natalia Willhelm, Natalia Ospino, Julieanna Ramos, Ally Sherwood, Amirah Young, Dulce Maldonado, Julia Holden and Rhepsey Wyman. They all finished the year with GPA's above a 3.48, including 4.0's from Willhelm, Young and Holden.

The Court Volleyball team, consisting of many of the same individuals, finished the season with a 3.72 GPA. This was good enough for them to tie for second place on the court with fellow Region 9 school North Platte. The Barton CC volleyball team earned the highest overall GPA in the NJCAA with a 3.93 mark to take first place. 

Trojan teams also making the grade this past year were Softball (3.29), Women's Basketball (3.21), Women's Soccer (3.19), Baseball (3.11), Men's Outdoor Track (3.07), Men's Indoor Track (3.06) and Men's Soccer (3.01).

"I am proud of the job our teams did in the classroom in this difficult COVID year, they fought through all of the changes and put in the extra work to continue the record we have had of excellence in the classroom," commented Athletic Director Mike Salbato. "I am especially proud of Coach Karli Salazar and the Volleyball squads. Their main season was moved to the spring, they competed on the sand for the first time, and yet they managed to put in great work in the classroom as well. Coach Salazar really pushed them to get good grades and that hard work paid off."  

To see a full list of all programs that achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher, visit: NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year at https://www.njcaa.org/awards/academic_teams