FARMINGTON, Utah (July 18, 2023) – The Big Sky Conference office has announced its 2022-23 Team Academic Champions for the first time in league history, highlighting the top team academically in each sport the league sponsors. The Vandals led the conference with five teams earning the title.
 
Women's basketball and volleyball led the Vandals with team GPA's of 3.63. Men's cross country and track and field earned the honor with 3.52 and 3.53 GPA's, respectively. Men's golf rounded out the academic dominance with a 3.53 cumulative GPA. 

"I continue to be so impressed with the academic success of our student-athletes," said Terry Gawlik, Director of Athletics. "Competing in their respective sports at the University of Idaho at the Division I level and balancing academia is difficult, but our coaches and student-athletes have found a way to be highly successful in both."

These titles were based upon combined team GPA for the entire 2022-23 academic calendar, not just the season they competed in. Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field were combined for the purposes of these titles.

"Our Strategic Plan calls for finding new and unique ways to honor our student-athletes for their academic successes, and we are excited to announce these team recognitions for each of the 16 Big Sky-sponsored sports," Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said. "Succeeding academically is also a team sport -- you have to carry each other and stay committed to one common goal. Congratulations to the teams recognized with this first-of-its-kind distinction in our league's history, and we look forward to this becoming an annual tradition."

2022-23 Team Academic Champions
Men's Basketball: Idaho State
Women's Basketball: Idaho & Northern Colorado
Men's Cross Country: Idaho
Women's Cross Country: Weber State
Football: Montana
Men's Golf: Idaho
Women's Golf: Portland State
Soccer: Idaho State
Softball: Montana
Men's Tennis: Montana
Women's Tennis: Weber State
Men's Track & Field: Idaho
Women's Track & Field: Portland State
Volleyball: Idaho