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Eighty-Five Student-Athletes Named to Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll
In a tremendous display of academic excellence and athletic dedication, eighty-five student-athletes from Auburn University have been named to the Winter Southeastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll. This announcement, made by the SEC Office on Tuesday, highlights the commitment of these young men and women not only to their sports but also to their scholastic achievements.
The Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll is based on grades from the 2024 Fall, 2025 Winter, and 2025 Spring terms, and it includes student-athletes from men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. These athletes have demonstrated excellence in both the classroom and competition, achieving at least a 3.00 grade-point average (GPA) while maintaining active status on their respective teams.
The life of a student-athlete is a demanding one. Daily training schedules, team travel, and intense competition often leave little time for academic pursuits. Despite these challenges, the 85 honorees from Auburn have proven that it is possible to succeed at the highest levels in both arenas. These student-athletes embody the core values of hard work, discipline, and time management.
Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts praised the honorees, saying:
“These student-athletes represent what the Auburn Family is all about — excellence in every field of human endeavor. We are proud of their commitment to the classroom and their respective sports. Their achievements bring great pride to our university.”
The honor roll is a reflection of Auburn’s emphasis on developing well-rounded individuals who are prepared for success beyond their collegiate careers.
The 85 student-athletes come from various winter sports programs, each contributing significantly to Auburn’s academic reputation:
- Men’s Basketball: 7 honorees
- Women’s Basketball: 9 honorees
- Gymnastics: 18 honorees
- Men’s Swimming & Diving: 24 honorees
- Women’s Swimming & Diving: 27 honorees
Gymnastics Leads the Way
Auburn Gymnastics had an exceptional academic season, with 18 athletes making the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll. This achievement is especially notable given the team’s rigorous training schedule and participation in postseason meets. The team’s academic success mirrors its competitive spirit, as it continues to rise as a national powerhouse under Head Coach Jeff Graba.
Standout gymnast Olivia Greaves, a junior kinesiology major, reflected on the honor:
“Being recognized for academics is just as meaningful as any title or score. It shows that we’re not just athletes — we’re students first, and Auburn makes sure we’re supported on both fronts.”
Auburn’s Swimming and Diving program accounted for 51 of the 85 honorees, demonstrating the team’s deep academic focus. With the men contributing 24 honorees and the women 27, these numbers reflect the leadership of Head Coach Ryan Wochomurka, who emphasizes excellence beyond the pool.
Wochomurka expressed his pride:
“These student-athletes train early mornings, attend classes, and come back for afternoon practices — yet they still achieve academically at an elite level. This honor is a testament to their character, discipline, and the academic support infrastructure we’ve built at Auburn.”
Notable honorees from the program include senior swimmer Emma Sticklen, a pre-med biology major, and diver Gavin Greenleaf, majoring in mechanical engineering. Both have maintained GPAs above 3.9 while serving as key contributors in the SEC Championships.
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams showed strong academic performance, with seven players from Bruce Pearl’s squad and nine from Johnnie Harris’s team receiving the SEC honor. The balance between rigorous travel schedules and maintaining academic eligibility speaks volumes about the culture Pearl and Harris have established within their programs.
Miles Kelly, one of the standout men’s basketball players and a finance major, shared his reaction:
“This award means a lot. Coach Pearl always tells us we’re ‘students’ before we’re ‘athletes,’ and we take that to heart. Auburn gives us every resource we need to succeed.”
On the women’s side, sophomore guard Honesty Scott-Grayson, a psychology major, highlighted the efforts of the academic support staff:
“From tutors to academic advisors, Auburn has created a network that makes it possible for us to keep up with our studies no matter how demanding the season gets.”
Auburn University’s athletics department has placed a strong emphasis on academic achievement across all sports. The institution has invested in academic facilities, such as the Walt and Virginia Woltosz Football Performance Center, which includes academic resources for all student-athletes. Additionally, the Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) office plays a vital role in helping athletes manage their time and meet academic expectations.
Rich McGlynn, Auburn’s interim Athletics Director, celebrated the honor roll announcement:
“We are incredibly proud of our 85 winter sport student-athletes who were recognized. This is a clear reflection of Auburn Athletics’ holistic approach — one that develops champions in sport, academics, and life.”
Auburn’s representation on the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll compares favorably with other SEC powerhouses. While the official conference-wide list includes more than 1,000 student-athletes, Auburn’s total of 85 stands out as one of the highest among SEC institutions.
The SEC Honor Roll program — separated into First-Year, Winter, Spring, and Fall designations — allows athletes multiple chances throughout the year to be recognized. The criteria require:
- A minimum GPA of 3.00 for the preceding academic year or a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
- Completion of 24 semester hours.
- Regular participation on a varsity team.
These benchmarks promote consistency and performance over time, not just in one semester, encouraging long-term academic planning and effort.
Emily Deschamps, an SEC Scholar-Athlete and Auburn senior gymnast, perhaps summed it up best:
“You wake up, practice, go to class, lift weights, study, and repeat. But when you see your name on that honor roll, all the hard work pays off.”
Many of these athletes are planning futures in medicine, law, engineering, education, and business. The honor roll serves as a stepping stone, building a résumé that reflects integrity, commitment, and resilience — qualities that employers, graduate schools, and communities highly value.
Auburn isn’t resting on its academic laurels. Plans are underway to expand tutoring availability, improve scheduling flexibility for high-credit majors, and enhance mental health resources for student-athletes facing burnout or pressure.
Dr. Candace Bradsher, Auburn’s Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services, spoke about next steps:
“We’re proud of this accomplishment, but we’re always striving to get better. Our next goal is to break 100 student-athletes named to a single SEC Honor Roll list — and we think we’re close.”
Auburn’s 85 honorees on the 2025 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll represent the best of what college athletics can offer. They are competitors and scholars. Leaders and learners. And above all, they are ambassadors of the Auburn spirit — one that doesn’t settle for greatness in just one arena.
Whether it’s diving off a 10-meter platform, leading a fast break in front of 9,000 fans, or quietly studying for an organic chemistry final, these athletes are proof that hard work, support, and belief in oneself can lead to extraordinary results.
As Auburn fans and alumni celebrate this achievement, the university continues to shine as a beacon of balanced success — where academic honors are just as celebrated as SEC championships.
War Eagle.
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