Dordt student-athletes repeat record-breaking academic performance

For the second consecutive year, Dordt University student-athletes matched the highest cumulative GPA in department history, continuing a standard of academic excellence that has become a hallmark of Defender Athletics.

The Dordt Athletic Department recently tabulated cumulative grade point averages for its student-athletes by team and found that members of varsity programs combined for a department-record-tying 3.56 GPA during the 2025–26 academic year.

Across both junior varsity and varsity programs, 777 student-athletes compiled a combined GPA of 3.54.

"Doing it once is impressive — repeating it shows the deep, everyday commitment our student-athletes, coaches, and staff have to academic excellence," says Darin Keizer. "It's a reflection of Dordt's commitment to developing the whole student."

The men's track and field team and women's swimming team each established program records with GPAs of 3.52 and 3.45, respectively. The women's cross country team recorded the highest team GPA in the department with a 3.83. 

Women's Cross Country Coach Nate Wolf shares how highly driven and self-motivated the athletes on his team are. "Many of the character traits that have led them to be part of the program to improve in their running, like self-discipline, responsibility, accountability, and work ethic, are traits that lend themselves to being outstanding students," he says. "The women consistently work to support each other in their faith, their running, and in the classroom. This support creates an environment where each other’s success can be shared and celebrated. 

Wolf says that he and his team do not talk much about team GPA outcomes or even the team's finish at a conference or national meet. "Instead, we focus on and talk about the daily work and embracing the values that come from doing small, sometimes difficult or mundane tasks, consistently. Clearly, the women on the team have been blessed with strong and inquisitive minds, but they have embraced the understanding that hard, consistent work is their responsibility to expand on the talents they have been given," he says.

All Dordt athletic teams will be nominated for NAIA Scholar-Team status, with those honors scheduled to be announced in September.

For more details, visit godordt.com. 

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.