UGA ranks fifth among SEC schools in latest GSR

Men’s Basketball…19…23…18…36…43…50…69…71

Men’s CC/Track…45…67…69…68…79…67…79…82

Football…41…48…57…68…65…69…82…75

Men’s Golf…78…75…88…89…86…100…89…90

Men’s Swim/Dive…88…92…100…100…89…90…83…82

Men’s Tennis…83…88…82…73…75…60…63…75

Wm’s Basketball…80…79…79…77…77…92…100…91

Wms CC/Track…69…64…72…75…85…95…91…90

Women’s Golf…67…71…86…88…88…100…83…67

Wms’s Gymnastics…93…92…100…100…100…100…100…100

Soccer…90…89…85…92…95…95…96…96

Softball…73…74…82…91…95…100…100…94

Wm’s Swim/Dive…90…91…84…86…88…88…96…100

Women’s Tennis…100…100…100…100…100…100…100…100

Volleyball…91…100…92…91…92…92…89…91

Wm’s Equestrian…91…68…72…73…71…84

UGA student-athletes are graduating at a higher rate than ever, according to the NCAA’s latest graduation success rate (GSR), released Tuesday.

Eighty-four percent of the Bulldogs’ student-athletes in the most recent period examined, which tracked the progress of incoming freshmen in the classes of 2004, ‘05, ‘06 and ‘07. That represents an increase of 1 percent over last year and is the highest since the measure was started in 2005. Georgia had 100 percent GSR among three sports gymnastics, women’s swimming and diving, and women’s tennis, which tied for first in the league. Jeff Wallace’s women’s tennis team has recorded 100 percent ratings every year since the rates have been tracked.

Georgia’s overall GSR ranked fifth among the SEC’s 14 schools. Football players graduated at the second-lowest rate among UGA’s sports (75 percent). That was down from 82 percent last year but was fifth among SEC schools overall.

Nine sports scored 90 percent or better. The biggest jump in graduation rates was recorded by men’s basketball (from 63 to 71), men’s tennis (from 63 to 75) and equestrian (from 71 to 84). The biggest drop was in women’s golf, from 83 to 67. Baseball remained the lowest overall 58, down from 59 a year ago.

“We’re glad to see our overall trend continue upward especially the dramatic improvement in the vast majority of our sports over the last five year period,” Athletic Director Greg McGarity said in UGA’s news release. “Our coaches and academic counseling staff have been diligent in their support of our student-athletes and their success. While the report is encouraging in the big picture, we still have plenty of room to continue improving and will remain totally committed to working hard with our student-athletes in all academic areas.”