I am used to covering and measuring the performance of student-athletes primarily as it pertains to the back half of that designation — athletes.

Narrowing my focus for this column to Longwood University, the school had student-athletes who really stood out in their respective sports during the 2017-18 school year. That is a significant feat to achieve at the ultra-competitive NCAA Division I level.

One thing that is rarely touched on is how impressive these accomplishments are when put in the broader context of a person juggling a busy academic schedule as well as a demanding athletic regimen. That phrase can easily be switched around too. It may be even more impressive that these individuals are excelling academically while also juggling a busy athletic schedule.

In a recent press release, Longwood Athletics reported that “in the follow-up to a historically strong fall semester, Longwood’s more than 200 student-athletes combined to turn in yet another impressive academic performance this past spring.”

“After logging a 3.05 gradepoint average (GPA) in the fall of 2017 that was Longwood Athletics’ highest mark in nearly a decade, Longwood’s student-athletes hit the books hard again to surpass that mark with a 3.11 in the spring,” university officials stated in the release. “That performance gave the Lancers a combined GPA of 3.08 for the 2017-18 academic year, improving on the 3.01 GPA the group posted in 2016-17.”

The release highlighted how this academic success was a widespread effort, with 48 Lancers earning dean’s list honors for posting GPAs of at least 3.50, and 25 more received President’s List recognition for holding perfect 4.0 GPAs.

“Additionally, Longwood’s men’s team’s amassed a cumulative GPA of 3.02, while the women’s programs posted a 3.27,” school officials cited in the release. “Seven of Longwood’s 14 programs posted team GPAs of at least 3.0 in both semesters of work: women’s basketball, field hockey, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer and softball. Field hockey’s 3.54 GPA in the spring was tops among Longwood’s women’s teams, while men’s golf’s 3.52 mark was the highest among Longwood’s men’s teams.”

Bravo, Lancers. Indeed, bravo!

TITUS MOHLER is the sports editor for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia, LLC. His email address is Titus.Mohler@FarmvilleHerald.com.