LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Six Michigan Intecollegiate Athletic Association softball teams and 69 individual student-athletes received academic accolades this week (Oct. 3) from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, as the national coaches organization recognized the recipients of Easton/NFCA Academic teams and Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete honors.
Saint Mary's led the way with a seventh-place team ranking, earning the Belles Easton / NFCA Top 10 Academic Team accolades for the second consecutive year. Other MIAA teams earning Easton/NFCA Academic team recognition were Albion, Alma, Calvin, Hope, and Kalamazoo.
Individually, 69 MIAA student-athletes met the academic standard set by the NFCA. Alma led the MIAA with 16 individual selections, followed by Adrian's 15. Saint Mary's (13) and Hope (11) also had double-figure honorees. To note, 2018 MIAA Most Valuable Pitcher, Saint Mary's Morgan Raymer, and 2018 MIAA Most Valuable Player, Hope's Hayley Reitsma, were both honored.
The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association’s membership categories. NCAA Division III saw 1,600 student-athletes earn a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2017-18.
Easton/NFCA 2017-18 Easton/NFCA Academic Teams, Division III (pdf)
Easton/NFCA 2017-18 NCAA Division III All-America Scholar Athletes (pdf)
MIAA Softball Teams honored by NFCA
Albion College, 101st, 3.110 GPA - Team Page Link
Alma College, 75th, 3.330 GPA - Team Page Link
Calvin College, 91st, 3.252 GPA - Team Page Link
Hope College, 49th, 3.423 GPA - Team Page Link
Kalamazoo College, 81st, 3.300 GPA - Story Link
Saint Mary's College, 7th, 3.611 GPA - Story Link
MIAA Softball Players honored by NFCA
Adrian - Emily Baldus, Madison Budde, Phoebe Cole, Paige Cubberly, Jalyn DeForest, Maggie Foss, Hope Kapelanksi, Krista Lynch, Rebecca Neal, Destiny Rogers 3.800 Adrian College Infinity Rogers, Taylor Van't Land, Paige VanAtta, Natalia Younan, Courtney Young - Team Page Link
Albion - Madelyn Kuipers, Estacia Martinez, Camille Roloff, Eryn VanderVlucht - Team Page Link
Alma - Kendall Bird, Mary Brooks, Hannah Cambe, Bry Chapman, McKenzie Creed, Jazmine Hamm, Kennedy Hilley, Kaylee Martin, Katie McClure, Averi Munro, Madyson Piche, Kali Prillwitz, Chelsea Schweiger, Jenna Steinhoff, Riley Terwilliger, Morgan Trout - Team Page Link
Calvin - Jessica Brasser, Abi Colon, Maddie DeGroot, Anna Gernant, Bri Leegwater, Bri Noorman, Jordan VanEerden - Team Page Link
Hope - Tena Baar, Claire Bates, Jo Cook, Amanda Diaz, Morgann Kanouse, Alex Knorp, Maddie Nise, Shay Pinhey, Hayley Reitsma, Katie Singer, Hannah Van de Roovaart - Team Page Link
Kalamazoo - Briana Huisken, Erika Pueblo, Maija Weaver - Story Link
Saint Mary's - Jill Ackermann, Jessica Alberts, Makenzie Duncan, Mary Green, Alyssa Gutierrez, Krystal Harris, Kelsey Keilman, Megan Knudsen, Morgan Raymer, Kelsey Richards, Sydney Swartz, Bridget Sweeney, Cassie Young - Story Link
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