Athletic department welcomes back cadet-athletes
1/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | General
Air Force Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton and his staff welcomed back cadet-athletes from the holiday break for a mid-year vector check this week. The event is designed to serve as a mid-year opportunity for the department's leadership to reinforce the expectations set for the cadet-athletes from the beginning of the academic year. In addition, the department celebrates the incredible accomplishments of the athletes so far this year.
Some of the accomplishments celebrated at the event were that nine teams have above a 3.0 grade point average for the fall semester. They include men's and women's rifle, ice hockey, men's tennis, women's fencing, women's cross country, women's gymnastics, women's tennis and women's soccer. In addition, 12 teams posted semester military performances averages of over 3.0. Those were women's cheer, women's fencing, women's soccer, women's tennis, women's swimming, boxing, women's diving, women's track and field, baseball, men's lacrosse, women's rifle and men's tennis.
There were 24 teams with a semester physical education average of over 3.0 with women's diving leading the way at 3.44. Three teams earned special honors of having over a 3.0 in all GPA, MPA and PEA, women's rifle, women's soccer and men's tennis.
Teams were also honored for community service hours, including baseball with 621 total hours leading the way. The cheer teams (620), women's soccer (221), hockey (138), women's swimming (137) and fencing (115) were also honored. Individual cadet-athletes were highlighted for holding leadership positions in the cadet wing.
Air Force Vice Director of Athletics Col. Brian Hill talked with the cadets and reminded them of their responsibilities on their teams, but also in the cadet wing and in the community. His message was for cadets to be the best they can be all the time!
Knowlton addressed the cadets and reminded them of resources available to them at the Academy, but also within the department. These include head coaches, administrators and other key staff members. He also quizzed them on sports knowledge which has become a favorite of the cadets in his addresses to them.
The event closed with a highlight video featuring all 27 intercollegiate sports, plus cheerleading and boxing as well as the Air Force Song.
"This is an important event for us, as we take the opportunity to welcome back our cadet-athletes as they start the second semester," Knowlton said. "We reinforce the expectations we set for them back at the beginning of the year during our Welcome Back Ice Cream Social and use the opportunity to celebrate their incredible accomplishments this season. It's a fun night and our feedback tells us that our cadet-athletes appreciate the celebration!"
