SALT LAKE CITY – Success in college athletics is two-fold. There are wins, losses and record — and there is the success of the student-athlete in the classroom. Recognizing the academic success of Westminster's student athletes, the NCAA Division II presented the college with the 2018 President's Award for Academic Excellence.
 
The Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence is given each year to NCAA Division II member schools that have earned an academic success rate (ASR) — the percentage of student-athletes who graduate within six years of initial collegiate enrollment — of 90% or higher. This year's award was given to 27 schools throughout the division. Westminster was listed as No. 14 with an ASR of 92%.

"We're also very proud of the academic accomplishments of our student-athletes," said Shay Wyatt, director of Westminster's Athletics. "These results are impressive and demonstrate our student-athletes' ability to manage demanding schedules and maintain academics as a top priority. Congratulations to our student-athletes for continuing the tradition of meeting the academic standards set forth by our institution."
 
Westminster College and Regis University were the only two schools from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) to earn the award. This was the first year Westminster was eligible for the award due to its new division status.
 
"Our 2018–19 season is a historical year for the college—and one to remember," Wyatt said. "After completing a three-year membership process, our Griffins officially competed in the NCAA Division II and had successful seasons this past fall with men's and women's soccer and cross country competing in conference and/or NCAA post-season tournaments."
 
Since joining the RMAC in 2015, a total of 314 student-athletes have earned RMAC All-Academic recognitions. Westminster had a record-breaking year in 2017–18 with 145 athletes who received the All-Academic Award. Westminster Athletics also earned seven Brechler Awards (given to the conference's team with the highest grade point average) last year, bringing the total to 13 since 2015–16.
 
Fall Wrap-Up
After completing a three-year membership process, Westminster became an active member of NCAA Division II. The new membership opened doors for the college to compete in post-season competitions. The fall season has been a successful start for the Griffins as the men's and women's soccer and cross-country were invited to compete in conference and/or NCAA post-season tournaments.
 
Women's Soccer
Women's soccer finished third in the regular season with a 10–2–1 conference record. Westminster hosted a first-round conference quarter-final and defeated Regis University to advance to the semi-finals against University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. They fell behind in the first half of the semi-final but scored a second-half goal to tie the game. The game was decided and UCCS won in a shootout after a scoreless overtime. A good season was rewarded, and the team was the first from Westminster to make it to the NCAA tournament. The Griffins season came to an end after a 1–0 loss to Dallas Baptist in the first round, finishing 14–4–2 overall.
 
Men's Soccer
Men's soccer had its best season in the RMAC, finishing second in the regular season with a 10–3–1 conference record.  Second place earned a bye through the first round and an appearance in the RMAC semifinals against Colorado Mesa.  A 2–1 loss in overtime ended the Griffins' impressive season with a 14–4–1 overall record.
 
Cross Country
The men's and women's cross-country teams both finished No. 12 in the RMAC championship. The women scored 351 and the men scored 385. Six men and seven women competed at the NCAA Division II South Central Region Championship for the first time. The women finished No. 18 with 522 points and the men finished No. 22 with 612 points.
 
Volleyball
The women's volleyball team finished No. 13 in the RMAC with a conference record of 5-13. They finished the season with an overall record of 7-19.

Golf
Men's and women's golf completed their fall tournaments and will return in the spring to finish the season.  The women's team competed in four tournaments and finished fourth at the RMAC Fall Preview and the Dixie State Classic, eighth at the Otter Invitational, hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay, and ninth at the Sonoma State Fall Invitational.  The men's team competed in three tournaments and finished 16th at the Western New Mexico University Fall Intercollegiate, 17th at the Saint Martin's Men's Invite and 22nd at the Dixie State Regional Preview.