University Journal
Eye on Athletics Student-Athletes Score High in Academics—Again Thirteen of the University’s 17 athletics teams earned at least a 3.0 team GPA last semester and, as a whole, the athletics department posted a 3.09 GPA—marking the 14th consecutive semester that the Hurricanes have notched a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The football team turned in its best-ever performance off the field, with nine players maintaining a 3.0 GPA for the previous semester and a cumulative 3.0 average throughout the course of their academic careers. Overall, 29 studentathletes posted at least a 4.0 GPA, while 229 topped the 3.0 mark and 201 earned spots on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll with a GPA of at least 3.2.
Nine student-athletes, including Jose Borregales, D’Eriq King, and Jaelan Phillips from the football team; soccer players Selena Fortich and Tyler Speaks; and rowers Sara Hansen, Taylor Kuligowski, Abigail Schwenger, and Maren Stickley were tapped into the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership society. “Our athletics department strives to help our student-athletes excel in all aspects of their college life,” says President Julio Frenk, “and I am thrilled to see them continue to meet this level of success in the classroom.”
Brothers ‘Del’ Power the ’Canes For the baseball ’Canes, one of the best surprises of the season was the
dynamic play of the Del Castillo brothers, Christian “Delly” and younger brother Adrian “Del.” The brothers Del are back playing together for the first time since Christian was 11 and Adrian 9. And, on any given day, one of the two was leading the team in batting average or runs driven in, according to David Villavicencio, associate director of athletics communications. Adrian, a power-hitting catcher, is a major league prospect who powered the team in a range of offensive stats last year. Yet Christian—who transferred to the University to pursue a graduate degree in biochemistry after starting for three years on Seton Hall’s baseball team and earning his undergraduate degree last year—has proven to be the major surprise.
“He’s consistently come through in a big spot—it’s been awesome and a very positive addition,” says Villavicencio. The chance to come home to Miami, pursue his graduate degree, and play for the Hurricanes he grew up loving offered an opportunity Christian wasn’t about to pass up. He balanced the demands of baseball and graduate studies this semester by taking many classes online and having supervisors who offer flexibility for lab and research tasks. Younger brother Adrian continues powering his way toward a chance at playing in the major leagues. With such a Cinderella season, Christian might adjust his sights as well, yet “he has the opportunity to be really successful outside of sports,” notes Villavicencio.
Christian Del Castillo
Abigail Schwenger
10 MIAMI Spring 2021 miami.edu/magazine
MIAMI ATHLETICS
Adrian Del Castillo
