Softball

Three SoCon softball teams honored by NFCA

UNCG, Chattanooga and Western Carolina's teams and players recognized for GPAs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - UNCG (t-63rd, 3.55 GPA), Western Carolina (70th, 3.544 GPA) and Chattanooga (t-76th, 3.522) were recognized by the NFCA for their team GPAs. 

UNCG individual honorees included Breanna Butcher, Delaney Cumbie, Tori Dalehite, Melanie Darges, Ashley Gontram, Jordan Gontram, Makenna Matthijs, Jasmine Palmer,  Christina Rodriguez, Katie Stettler, Hannah Stiltner,  Anna White and Kayleigh Willis. 

The 15 Catamounts honored individually edges the previous high of 11 in the 2018-19 season. As a team, Western Carolina's 3.544 was the second-highest GPA in the Southern Conference as WCU was just edged by UNCG who ended the year with a 3.55 and ranked tied for 63rd. Rising sophomore Morgan Maddaluna ended her first season at Western Carolina with a 4.0 GPA in biology/political science. Nine of the 15 Catamounts honored had a 3.7 GPA or higher. 

The remaining Catamount softball players honored included Savannah Baldwin (3.96), Danielle Chapman (3.56), Jayme Eilers (3.73), Caitlin Griffin (3.86), Kailey McNeil (3.66), Addie Pate (3.68), Anna Paige Pelfrey (3.57), Lindsay Perillo (3.88), Samantha Reele (3.77), Claudia Riddle (3.63), Bailey Treadway (3.75), Myra Twitty (3.70) and Jeralynn Wells (3.89).

Chattanooga individual honorees included Emily Coltharp, Kendall Forsythe, Makenzi Grider, Gracey Kruse, Reagan Lowery, Shannon Parrott, Elizabeth Rodebaugh, Kailey Snell, Alexa Sudduth and Hannah Wood. 

Over 8,800 student-athletes were named 2021 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes marking the second consecutive year (2018-19) achieving the 8,000-plus plateau.

The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association’s membership categories. NCAA Division III led the way with 2,375 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2020-21. NCAA Division I and Division II followed with 1,982 and 1,727 honorees. High School weighted and High School unweighted earned 832 and 679 distinctions. NAIA and two-year programs each amassed 643 and 594 recipients, respectively.