Seven Bradley Teams Receive Academic Recognition

A school-record seven Bradley University programs were recognized by the NCAA for outstanding academic achievement, earning Academic Progress Rate (APR) Public Recognition Awards. The Braves men's basketball, men's golf, men's soccer, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s tennis and women’s track programs each collected the honor from the NCAA, announced on Wednesday.

To be recognized, a program must rank in the top 10 percent within its sport nationally, according to overall team academic performance during a four-year period. The current period released ended with the 2016-17 academic year.

Bradley’s seven recognized programs are not only a school record but the most in the Missouri Valley Conference, with Loyola ranking second with six honorees.

“I applaud every program earning a Public Recognition Award this year for their commitment to going above and beyond to prepare students for life after college through academic achievement,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said. “To have nine national champions so far this year — including men’s and women’s basketball — be among those recognized illustrates that student-athletes succeed athletically and academically.”

For the second-straight year, Bradley is the only men’s basketball program in the Missouri Valley Conference and the state of Illinois to receive the honor. The team earned the accolade for the second time in the 13-year history of the APR program.

The Bradley men’s golf and men’s soccer teams also received recognition for the second-straight campaign. The 2018 MVC Champions, the golf team earned the honor for the seventh time in the 13-year history of the APR, while the only men’s soccer program in the conference to be recognized this year, Bradley soccer received the accolade for the sixth time overall and the fourth-straight year.

Bradley’s women’s tennis program earned APR recognition for a school-record 11th time and for the first time since the 2013-14 year. The Braves women’s basketball team – one of just two MVC schools honored along with Northern Iowa – and women’s cross country both received the accolade for the first time since 2011-12, while women’s track was last honored in 2008-09.

The seven recognized programs by the Braves top the previous school standard of six, set during the 2008-09 year.