13 Bruins named Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athletes
In an announcement made today by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), 13 Bellevue University softball players were named 2022 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes for the 2021-22 academic year.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- In an announcement made today by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), 13 Bellevue University softball players were named 2022 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes for the 2021-22 academic year.
Those named to the prestigious list include Bruins Katie Cunningham, Maricela Egan, Savannah Gunn, Sydni Haugaard, Lauren Jurek, Catherine Kempf, Alyssa Morbach, Allison O'Driscoll, Amanda Placzek, Sami Reding, Emily Rochford, Alexa Sidel, and Ashley Young.
A total of 7,527 collegiate student-athletes across all divisions nationally captured Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2021-22 academic year.
Under the guidance of Jody Gabriel, Macalester posted a 3.8507 GPA in the classroom with 19 Scots earning All-America Scholar-Athlete honors.
Jenny Allard's Harvard University (3.76) squad earned top honors in NCAA Division I. Rockhurst University (Heidi Jordan) bested NCAA Division II with a 3.817 GPA, the second overall GPA. Iowa Wesleyan University (Michael Hampton) posted a 3.733 GPA for the top spot in the NAIA, while Paris Junior College (NJCAA DI), under the direction of Shelby Shelton, led all two-year institutions with a 3.794 GPA.
The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories. NCAA Division III led the way with 2,227 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2021-22. NCAA Division I followed with 2,155 and NCAA Division II with 1,646. Junior Colleges and NAIA came in with 756 and 736 student-athletes respectively, with USCAA member Penn State Brandywine earning seven scholar-athlete nods.
Team GPAs and scholar-athletes are submitted by member head coaches. High School weighted and High School unweighted team GPA winners and scholar-athletes will be announced on Sept. 1.
The Top 10 Teams
NCAA Division I
1. Harvard – 3.760; 2. Illinois State – 3.716; 3. Green Bay – 3.7122.; 4. Hartford – 3.700; 5. IUPUI – 3.695; 6. Central Arkansas – 3.694; t7. DePaul – 3.682; t7. Elon – 3.682; 9. Northern Iowa – 3.680; 10. Dayton – 3.654
NCAA Division II
1. Rockhurst – 3.817; 2. Adelphi– 3.800; 3. Davenport – 3.789; 4. Mercyhurst – 3.781; 5. Upper Iowa – 3.745; 6. Lees-McRae – 3.738; 7. UT Tyler – 3.735; t8. Ferris State – 3.730; t8. Southern Indiana – 3.730; 10. Post – 3.700
NCAA Division III
1. Macalester – 3.8507; 2. Middlebury – 3.748; 3. Susquehanna – 3.729; 4. Case Western Reserve – 3.722; 5. Oberlin – 3.720; 6. York – 3.711; t7. Elms – 3.710; t7. Hamline– 3.710; t7. MIT – 3.710; 10. Salve Regina – 3.701
NAIA
1. Iowa Wesleyan – 3.733; 2. William Woods – 3.7183; 3. Columbia College – 3.615; 4. Briar Cliff – 3.603; 5. Freed-Hardeman – 3.602; 6. Oklahoma Panhandle – 3.590; 7. Indiana Wesleyan – 3.560; 8. Siena Heights – 3.543; 9. Kentucky Christian– 3.550; 10. Southeastern – 3.544
Junior Colleges
1. Paris Junior College– 3.794; 2. . Iowa Western CC – 3.790; 3. Wallace State CC – 3.710; 4. Des Moines Area CC – 3.7091; 5. Eastern Oklahoma State – 3.709; 6. McLennan CC– 3.690; 7. Miles CC – 3.680; 8. Northwest Florida State – 3.600; 9. Iowa Lakes CC – 3.580; 10. College of Southern Idaho– 3.571