14 Bruins named Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- In an announcement made today by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), 14 Bellevue University softball players were named 2024 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes for the 2023-24 academic year.

Those named to the prestigious list include Bruins Myla Beckstrom, Lexi Blankenfeld, Emma Crisman, Katie Cunningham, Morgan Dreessen, Abby Dworak, Leslie Egan, Laila Fiscus, Keely Geise, Savannah Gunn, Madison Machacek, Breanne McMurtry, Sami Reding, and Alexa Sidel. 

The Bruins ranked 17th among NAIA schools with a team GPA of 3.584.

A total of 8,054 collegiate student-athletes captured Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2023-24 academic year.

Under Jen Sewell's direction, Southern Illinois posted a 3.856 GPA in the classroom and was among ten programs with a 3.80 or better GPA. Twenty-two Salukis earned scholar-athlete recognition.

Julia Meyer's Post University (3.84) squad earned top honors in NCAA Division II for the second consecutive year with the second-highest overall GPA. Keuka College (Jamie Burke) posted a 3.822 GPA to best NCAA Division III programs. Faulkner University (Hal Wynn) posted a 3.795 GPA to top the NAIA, while Trinity Valley Community College (NJCAA DI), under the direction of Maria Winn-Ratliff, led all two-year institutions for the second straight year with a 3.82 GPA.

The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories. NCAA Division I led the way, with 2,573 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2023-24. NCAA Division III followed with 2,285 and NCAA Division II with 1,510. NAIA and junior colleges came in with 873 and 808 student-athletes, respectively. Five student-athletes from Penn State Brandywine earned recognition in the Other Four-Year category.

Team GPAs and scholar-athletes were submitted by member head coaches. High School team GPA winners and scholar-athletes will be announced on Sept. 1.

Top-10 Teams

NCAA Division I
1. Southern Illinois University - 3.856; 2. Radford University – 3.811; 3. Youngstown State University – 3.781; 4. George Mason University – 3.78; 5. Illinois State University – 3.779; 6. Saint Louis University – 3.743; t7. University of North Carolina Greensboro – 3.73; t7. University of Alabama – 3.73; 9. University of Evansville – 3.729; 10. University of Northern Iowa – 3.723.

NCAA Division II
1. Post University – 3.84; 2. Lincoln Memorial University – 3.829; 3. Emporia State University – 3.8; 4. Mercyhurst University – 3.77; 5. – Auburn University at Montgomery – 3.775; 6. Trevecca Nazarene University – 3.757; 7. University of Texas at Tyler – 3.724; 8. Young Harris College – 3.723; 9. Tusculum University – 3.72; 10. Molloy University – 3.695.

NCAA Division III
1. Keuka College – 3.822; 2. Wheaton College (Mass.) – 3.77; 3. Johnson & Wales University – 3.762; 4. Grinnell College – 3.74; 5. Stevenson University – 3.72; t6. Case Western Reserve University – 3.71; t6. Washington University in St. Louis – 3.71; 8. Pomona-Pitzer Colleges – 3.708; 9. University of Chicago – 3.702; 10. Haverford College – 3.701.

NAIA
1. Faulkner University – 3.795; 2. College of Coastal Georgia – 3.79; 3. Spring Arbor University – 3.783; 4. Grand View University – 3.77; 5. University of Pikeville – 3.76; 6. Columbia College – 3.744; 7. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) – 3.722; 8. Cornerstone University – 3.721; 9. Central Methodist University – 3.721; 10. Southeastern University – 3.664.

Junior Colleges
1. Trinity Valley Community College – 3.82; 2. Daytona State College – 3.815; 3. Indian Hills Community College – 3.81; 4. Parkland College – 3.8; 5. Olney Central College – 3.734; 6. Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute – 3.72; 7. Paris Junior College – 3.713; 8. Spoon River College – 3.709; 9. Hutchinson Community College – 3.7; 10. University of South Carolina Union – 3.69.