LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the second consecutive year, Illinois State Softball has earned the second highest cumulative team grade point average among NCAA Division I softball programs posting a 3.766 for the 2022-23 academic year as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Easton Fastpitch.
In addition to earning the second-best team GPA, Redbird Softball had a total of 17 student athletes-named to the Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete team. In order to obtain All-America status, Easton/NFCA require student-athletes to earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA for the 2022-23 academic year.
"We are extremely proud of this team and the hard work our student-athletes put into their academics," said head coach Tina Kramos. "Matching the new program record of 3.77, set in the fall of 2022, is a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to their work ethic and our amazing academic support staff."
The team finished the 2022-23 year with a 3.766 cumulative team GPA, which matches the program record for GPA, previously set by the same group during the fall semester. The team was only second to Georgia State, the leader among NCAA Division I softball programs this year with a 3.83 cumulative team GPA.
Eight Redbird Softball student-athletes earned a 4.0 cumulative GPA for the academic year, including Bailah Bognar, Delainey Bryant, Emma Hicks, Abby Horton, Addison Masching, Hannah Meshnick, Emme Olson, Hannah Ross, and Annie Volkers.
The Redbirds earned previous academic recognition as Olson was named MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as well as an MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team honoree along with teammates Dayna Kennedy and Bryant. Ross, Chloe Jefferson, and Abby Knight added to the feat, each earning a selection to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable mention team.
Coach Kramos also commented, "Earning back-to-back awards for second best GPA Nationally is an incredible achievement."
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