Softball Picks Up Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete Honors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced the College Team Academic Award winners, honoring softball programs for their stellar performance in the classroom during the 2021-22 academic year. Emmanuel was one of 115 NCAA Division III programs to earn team honors.

A total of 7,527 collegiate student-athletes captured Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors for the 21-22 academic year. 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

The Saints posted a 3.3155 cumulative GPA last year to rank 102^nd among NCAA Division III programs. Emmanuel is one of just four Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) institutions to make the list joining Elms, Johnson & Wales and Simmons.

Emmanuel was one of just 21 schools from New England and one of 11 from Massachusetts to receive the team recognition. Along with the team honors, seven EC players received Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete accolades. They were:

Tianna Dawe (Peabody, Mass.)
Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.)
Jadynne Hill (Haverhill, Mass.)
Rebecca Markie (West Hartford, Conn.)
Madison Marks (Edgewater Park, N.J.)
Grace Orcutt (Lexington, Mass.)
Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.)

To qualify for the individual accolade, a player must maintain a GPA of 3.50 or higher through the spring season.

The NFCA annually celebrates the academic achievements teams whose student-athletes collectively demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their studies over the course of a full academic year. Team GPAs and scholar-athletes are submitted by member head coaches.