LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With a 3.560 team grade point average during the 2015-16 academic year, the Northwest softball program has been recognized as having the fourth-best GPA in junior college by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), it was announced Thursday.

Northwest has boasted one of the nation's top GPAs in four consecutive years under head coach Mike Rowan, finishing as runner-up in 2013-14 (3.489) and 2014-15 (3.522), fourth this year and sixth in 2012-13 (3.370).  

A dozen Northwest softball players were also recognized as 2015-16 All-America Scholar Athletes back in June, giving the Rangers an impressive 47 in the past four years.

The honorees were sophomores Kayla Andrada, Heath Griffith, Hailee Kolwyck, Avery McCullough, Ashton Needham, Olivia Owen and Erin Claire Stegall as well as freshmen Sallie Rose Carver, Makenzie Crutcher, Leeah Henson, Kali Roberts and Annah Catherine Storey.

The award is bestowed upon any player submitted by a member coach who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2015-16 academic year. The honor marks the second component of the association's academic award program.

For a complete listing of all NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes and academic teams, please visit www.nfca.org.

NFCA Top 10 Academic Teams (JC):
1. Allen – 3.660
2. Barton – 3.631
3. Itawamba – 3.605
4. Northwest – 3.560
5. Holmes – 3.486
6. North Platte – 3.450
7. Blinn College – 3.447
8. Fort Scott – 3.440
9. Western Nebraska – 3.410
10. Iowa Western – 3.400