Softball Honored by NFCA With Third-Highest GPA in Division III

DIVISION III LIST

St. Louis, Mo., October 24, 2012 – In addition to having success on the softball field in 2012, the Washington University in St. Louis softball team also scored well off the field with the third-highest team grade point average in Division III, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Academic Team Rankings.

The Bears posted a team cumulative GPA of 3.57 for the 2011-12 academic year, which was also tops in the University Athletic Association (UAA). Fontbonne University topped the list for Division III with a team GPA of 3.595, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology was second with a 3.589.

This past spring, Washington University had four student-athletes earn 2012 Capital One First-Team Academic All-District honors in Ashley Janssen, Maggie Mullen, Kelsey Neal and Sondra Polonsky. In addition, Neal earned third-team Capital One Academic All-America accolades, becoming the fifth player in school history to achieve the honor.

Additionally, Washington U. had 10 student-athletes earn UAA All-Academic honors: Alyssa Abramoski, Olivia Cook, Claire Downs, Janssen, Mullen, Neal, Kathy Peter, Polonsky, Rebecca Salisbury and Hilary Stepansky.

Washington U. recorded a 28-12 overall record a year ago, its 10th-straight season with 25 or more wins. The Bears also tied for second in the UAA Conference Tournament with a 4-4 mark.