SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced on Tuesday the Academic All-Conference teams for 2020-21. All 10 SoCon institutions were represented on the team, which honored 1,022 total student-athletes. Wofford had a total of 99 student-athletes recognized.
To be eligible for the academic all-conference team, student-athletes must carry at least a 3.3 cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of the spring semester and were required to compete in at least one-half of their teams' competitions. In addition, the student-athletes must have successfully completed at least three semesters at their institutions, making true freshmen and first-year transfers ineligible for inclusion.
For the first time in 2020-21, just one academic all-conference team was selected, including all 22 SoCon-sponsored sports, due to the majority of competition taking place in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2015-16, separate fall and spring squads have been selected, while fall, winter and spring squads were selected from 2003-04 to 2014-15. A winter and a spring team were selected in 2002-03, the year the SoCon introduced the academic awards.
"Academic excellence is a priority and a hallmark of the Southern Conference," SoCon Commissioner Jim Schaus said. "Congratulations to the significant number of student-athletes that are being recognized. Winning on the athletic field is indeed special. But winning in the classroom can last a lifetime."
Among Wofford teams, women's soccer led the way with 14 selections. Women's outdoor track was next with nine and women's indoor track had eight selections.
Mercer led all schools with 130 spots on the academic all-conference team, followed by ETSU with 118 and Samford with 109. Wofford (99), Western Carolina (97), Chattanooga (89), Furman (86) and UNCG (75) also had at least 75.
Associate members for men's and women's lacrosse, rifle, men's soccer and wrestling were also eligible for the award, accounting for 107 of the selections.
This is the 19th year that the Southern Conference has named an Academic All-Conference Team.
