43 Horizon League Softball Players Named NFCA Division I All-America Scholar Athletes

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- 43 Horizon League student-athletes were among the over 4,000 student-athletes representing 707 different academic institutions named as a 2011 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar Athlete, the Association announced Thursday.

The award is given to any player submitted by a member coach who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2010-11 academic year.  The award is the second component of the Association’s academic award program.  Last week, the teams with the highest GPAs in each membership category were recognized as a 2011 NFCA Top Ten All-Academic team.

Butler (6), Detroit (6), Green Bay (7), Valparaiso (8), Wright State (5) and Youngstown State (11) all placed student-athletes on the All-America Scholar Athlete list.

This year’s total of 4,331 honorees bested last year’s total by over 30 student-athletes.  The membership category with the most participating institutions this year was Division III with 168, while high school led the way in total honorees with 1,160.

For a complete listing of 2010-11 All-Academic Teams and All-America Scholar Athletes, click here. The Horizon League honorees are as follows:

Butler (6) - Rachael Brummer, Alyssa Coleman, Krista Hakola, Lauren McNulty, Meaghan Sullivan, Mallory Winters
Detroit (6) - Rachel Copple, Renee Zacagni, Sara Cupp, Hannah Klenk, Julia Maksym, Kate Steffel
Green Bay (7) - Allison Goecks, Jessica Hrncar, Amanda Pozolinski, Gabrielle Cassady, Miranda Reinke, Shannon Butts, Cassandra Scheel
Valparaiso (8) - Kelly Belisle, Hayley Bridwell, Victoria Brown, Sadie Conner, Angel Doerffler, Joylyn Ichiyama, Shaleigh Jansen, Kelsey Phelan
Wright State (5) - Michelle Baker, Lindsay Barrett, Katie Kine, Kacie Rapshus, Colleen Schneider
Youngstown State (11) - Jordan Ingalls, Haley Thomas, Victoria Rumph, Sarah Gabel, Kristen Philen, Kim Klonowski, Sarah Ingalls, Kristina Rendle, Amanda Palmore, Samantha Snodgrass, Courtney Ewing