Even when the playing fields are quiet, Miami Dade College’s student-athletes are still making noise.
The Sharks closed the 2025-26 academic year with a record-breaking 65 student-athletes named to the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) All-Academic
Team, the highest total in MDC Athletics history. The academic milestone capped a standout year in competition as every Sharks team qualified for postseason play for only
the second time in College history.
Overall, MDC Athletics posted a 3.21 GPA, led by softball, which placed 16 players on the All-Academic Team and recorded the department’s highest team GPA at 3.86. Men’s soccer followed with 14 honorees, while volleyball added 12 after a championship season that brought the College another national title.
The results highlight the balance MDC student-athletes maintained throughout the year as they excelled in competition while meeting the demands of the classroom.
That balance is supported by academic services designed specifically for student-athletes, including specialized advisement, tutoring and faculty progress monitoring to help them stay on track with degree requirements while maintaining NJCAA eligibility.
Other teams also contributed to the record total. Baseball, which won the state title and competed in the NJCAA World Series, had eight student-athletes recognized. Women’s soccer placed seven on the team, followed by women’s basketball with five and men’s basketball with three.
Volleyball’s Luyeisy Marquez-Moreno also earned one of the top individual honors, capping the year as Region 8 Female Athlete of the Year, FCSAA Player of the Year and NJCAA Player of the Year.
For MDC Athletic Director Mike Balado, the record number of academic honorees underscores the broader value of college athletics.
“College athletics is about more than a winning record,” Balado said. “The student-
athlete experience helps students build a stronger connection to their schoolwork, learn time management and develop habits that carry them well beyond the playing field.”