IRVINE, Calif. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its largest list of All-America Scholar-Athletes this October and the Concordia University Irvine softball team was among a select group of schools to see its student-athletes recognized both individually and collectively.
The CUI softball squad compiled a 3.31 team GPA which placed the Green and Gold among the nation's best at the NCAA DII level. The University of Bridgeport led all of NCAA DII with a 3.776 GPA. Over the course of all NCAA levels, over 8,000 student-athletes (a record-setting 8,161) were named 2019 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes.
To make the cut individually, student-athletes had to earn a 3.5 grade-point average or higher during the 2018-19 academic year. NCAA Division II had a total of 1,306 honorees.
Led by 2019 PacWest Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Sarah Kretschmar, who compiled a 3.95 GPA, the Eagles had eight players qualify for the prestigious list.
Sydni Dix,
Amanda Gjertsen,
Mackenzie Graham,
Nicole Lukinbeal,
Callie Nunes,
Stephanie Ruelas and
McKinsey Thorpe joined Kretschmar in representing Concordia's proud tradition of excelling in the classroom.
The Eagles were also one of three schools that represented the PacWest Conference on the individual list of qualifying softball student-athletes. CUI was followed by Dominican, who had six student-athletes recognized and Hawai'i Hilo (4).
"I'm very proud of our student athletes who do such a remarkable job representing our institution on the field and in the classroom," said CUI head coach
Crystal Rosenthal. "They are driven to be their best in all areas and I applaud all of the work it takes to succeed at such a high level."
The CUI softball team also had 75 percent of its roster (18 of 24 players)
make this past year's Academic All-PacWest Team.
CUI just completed a historic season where
the Eagles won their second straight PacWest Conference Championship and
advanced to the DII Super Regional for the first time in school history. Coach Rosenthal
recently earned career win No. 500 during the team's
47-8 campaign which came when Nunes tossed her sixth career no-hitter.
For the full list of student-athletes who were named to the 2019 All-American Scholar-Athletes, click here. For the list of NCAA DII schools who were recognized with their team GPA, click here.
The CUI softball team will open up the 2020 season on Friday, January 31 when the school hosts its new tournament in Irvine. More details on the tourney will be announced in the near future.
