LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Over 8,800 student-athletes were named 2021 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, the Association announced on Tuesday afternoon. With the highest total in Association history, it marked the second consecutive year (2018-19) achieving the 8,000-plus plateau.
Macalester College (NCAA DIII) captured the top team GPA amongst college programs, while River Hill High School (Md.) and Lone Oak High School (Texas) and River Hill High School (Md.) posted the top marks in the weighted and unweighted high school categories in the Easton/NFCA Top 10 Academic Team rankings for the 2020-21 school year.
Under the guidance of Jody Gabriel, the Spartans posted a 3.905 GPA in the classroom. Mami Rosenbaum's Hawks and Ben Greer's Buffaloes led the way with 4.60 and 3.986 GPAs, respectively.
Jessica Allister's Stanford University (3.846) squad is your top NCAA Division I program. Frostburg State (Bill Vasko) bested NCAA Division II with a 3.791 GPA, while Spring Arbor (Deb Thompson) posted a 3.78 GPA for tops in NAIA. Iowa Western Community College (NJCAA DII), under the direction of Michelle Bolt, led all two-year institutions with a 3.76 GPA.
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.
Top-10 Teams
NCAA Division I
1. Stanford – 3.846; 2. Southern Illinois – 3.806; 3. Wisconsin Green Bay – 3.794; 4. Michigan State – 3.784; 5. Maine – 3.774; 6. Mount St. Mary's – 3.737; 7. Hartford – 3.730; 8. Toledo – 3.708; 9. Saint Louis – 3.707; 10. Bowling Green – 3.704
NCAA Division II
1. Frostburg State – 3.791; 2. Mercyhurst – 3.785; 3. Wayne State University – 3.772; 4. Upper Iowa – 3.764; 5. Trevecca Nazarene – 3.758; t6. UIndy – 3.740; t6. Sioux Falls – 3.740; 8. Emporia State – 3.719; 9. West Chester – 3.713; 10. Adelphi – 3.704
NCAA Division III
1. Macalester – 3.905; 2. Johnson & Wales – 3.880; 3. MIT – 3.830; 4. Rhodes – 3.816; 5. Susquehanna – 3.814; 6. Middlebury – 3.800; 7. Wisconsin-Whitewater – 3.781; 8. Hamline – 3.781; 9. Kenyon – 3.780; 10. Haverford – 3.768
NAIA
1. Spring Arbor – 3.769; 2. Central Methodist – 3.653; 3. Evangel – 3.647; 4. Siena Heights – 3.642; t5. Kentucky Christian – 3.640; t5. Missouri Baptist – 3.640; 7. Columbia College – 3.587; 8. Madonna – 3.540; 9. Briar Cliff – 3.531; 10. Milligan – 3.528
Junior Colleges
1. Iowa Western CC – 3.830; 2. Itawamba CC – 3.761; 3. Kansas City Kansas CC – 3.690; 4. Wallace State CC – 3.630; 5. Gulf Coast State College – 3.628; 6. Seminole State College of Florida – 3.600; 7. Rock Valley College – 3.540; 8. Gordon State College (Ga.) – 3.528; t9. Mt. San Antonio College – 3.500; t9 North Platte CC – 3.500
High School (Unweighted)
1. Lone Oak (Texas) – 3.941; 2. Kellenberg Memorial (N.Y.) – 3.889; 3. Loogootee Community (Ind.) – 3.865; 4. Apex Friendship – 3.863; 5. Topeka (Kan.) – 3.840; 6. Rochester Adams (Mich.) – 3.837; 7. West Monroe (La.) – 3.835; 8. Elysian Fields (Texas) – 3.829; 9. Cleveland Central (Miss.) – 3.820; 10. River Oaks (La.) – 3.796
