LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With a 3.512 team grade point average during the 2016-17 academic year, the Northwest softball program has been recognized as having the eighth-best GPA in junior college by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) in a Tuesday announcement.
Northwest has boasted one of the nation's top GPAs in five consecutive years under hall of fame head coach
Mike Rowan, finishing as junior college runner-up in 2013-14 (3.489) and 2014-15 (3.522), fourth last year and sixth in 2012-13 (3.370).
In addition, 10 Northwest softball players were recognized as 2016-17 All-America Scholar Athletes back in June, giving the Rangers an impressive total of 57 in the past five years.
The honorees were sophomores
Sallie Rose Carver,
Leeah Henson,
Makenzie Crutcher and
Kat Holley as well as freshmen
Kendall Akerson,
Ally Judkins,
Alexis Winters,
Sarah Craig,
Sarah Taylor and
Harley Smith.
The award is bestowed upon any player submitted by a member coach who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2016-17 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. College of Southern Idaho - 3.686
2. East Mississippi - 3.643
3. Allen - 3.630
4. Iowa Western - 3.591
5. Wenatchee Valley College - 3.540
6. Gulf Coast State - 3.526
7. Fort Scott - 3.520
8. Northwest Mississippi - 3.512
9. North Platte - 3.497
10. Tallahassee - 3.480
