Spartan Family,

As 2024 draws to a close, we look back on an exciting and impactful year for our USC Upstate Athletics family. We've made incredible strides on and off the field, achieving milestones and continually improving the student-athlete experience.

This year has been nothing short of historic. We celebrated championships and NCAA tournament berths, beginning with Softball winning the first Big South Tournament Championship for the department, advancing to NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2017. Women's Soccer also made their mark on their historic run to winning the regular and postseason championships, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Our Women's Golf team also made history with their first postseason tournament appearance, and Women's Basketball reached new heights with their first Big South semifinal appearance and a berth in the WNIT.

Our student-athletes also continued to shine in the classroom. They achieved a department-wide GPA of 3.24 in Spring 2024, with 187 athletes earning a 3.00 or higher and 39 achieving a perfect 4.00. Twelve of our programs posted team GPAs of 3.00 or higher, with Volleyball leading the way at an impressive 3.80 GPA.  I'm also pleased to announce that the numbers for our most recent semester have just come in, and our student-athletes once again rose to the occasion, this time setting a new department record, achieving a 3.33 GPA in Fall 2024! A formal announcement celebrating the new record with more details will come later this week, but please join me in congratulating our student-athletes on a historic semester!

In 2024, we also reorganized and relaunched the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) as the primary fundraising arm for all giving to USC Upstate Athletics. The UAF is now better positioned to provide unique, exclusive benefits to our supporters while driving financial support directly to the development of our student-athletes. As we close 2024, consider making a tax-deductible end-of-year gift to the UAF! Support Here!

As we celebrate the final days of 2024, let's use this year's accomplishments as a springboard for the challenges and opportunities ahead in 2025!

From all of us at USC Upstate Athletics, we wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year! May it be filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments. Please stay safe in your travels and celebrations, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year as we continue to build the Green and White!

Go Spartans!

-MATT