FERRIS STATE AMONG NATION'S TOP ACADEMIC SOFTBALL TEAMS
Bulldogs Place 28th In NFCA's Division II Academic Team National Rankings
 | Jessica Jaroniewski was among six Bulldogs named as 2004-05 NFCA Scholar-Athletes. The NFCA also ranked Ferris State among its top NCAA Division II Academic teams for this past season. |
The 2005 Ferris State University softball season not only featured a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament title, a share of the conference's overall championship crown and a post-season berth in the NCAA Division II Softball Tourney, but also success in the classroom as evidenced by the Bulldogs' 28th-place finish among the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's (NFCA) top NCAA-II academic softball teams for the 2004-05 season. The announcement was made by the NFCA, which is headquartered in Starkville, Miss.
The selection of the NFCA All-Academic teams is based upon cumulative grade point averages (GPA) submitted by NFCA-member head coaches for the 2004-05 academic year. Along with the teams, the NFCA recognized over 2,700 scholar-athletes who registered better than 3.5 GPAs last year. The NFCA is the professional growth organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play.
Ferris State, coached by Keri Becker, registered a team 3.249 grade-point average (GPA) during the 2004-05 academic year to place 28th among 49 total ranked institutions. Lynn University (Fla.) recorded a 3.552 GPA to claim top academic accolades while Grand Canyon University (Ariz.) was second at 3.523 and fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member the University of Findlay (Ohio) captured third-place laurels with a 3.523 GPA. The Bulldogs finished right behind Indiana University of Pennsylvania (3.250 GPA) and ahead of Caldwell College's (N.J.) 3.247 team GPA. Along with Ferris State and Findlay, a total of four other GLIAC schools (Wayne State, Lake Superior State, Saginaw Valley State, and Hillsdale) were included among the NFCA's top academic performers.
Iowa Wesleyan College's 3.650 GPA not only lead all NAIA institutions but was highest among all colleges. University of Detroit Mercy was tops in NCAA Division I with a 3.591 average and Hartwick College (N.Y.) led NCAA Division III with a 3.596 cumulative mark.
The previous academic year (2003-04), FSU compiled a 3.074 GPA to tie Henderson State University (Ark.) for 42nd place. The Bulldogs placed fourth nationally in 2001-02 and were 10th in the 2000-01 season.
Individually, the NFCA acknowledged six Bulldogs as scholar-athletes as a result of having at least a 3.50 GPA for this past academic year. Recognized were senior catcher Melissa Worsley (Midland), sophomore first baseman Laura Crower (Midland), senior shortstop Navreet Gill (Brampton, Ontario/Mayfield Secondary), freshman third baseman Katie Kraai (Zeeland), junior second baseman Kristin Hollister (Newport/Airport) and junior outfielder Jessica Jaroniewski (Millington).
Worsley, Crower, Gill, and Jaroniewski were also named to the 2005 GLIAC All-Academic Team.
Ferris State concluded the 2005 season at 31-20-0 overall, which represented its best campaign since 2000 (33-18-0) and the sixth 30 or more win season in the program's 33-year history. The Bulldogs also made their fourth-ever NCAA-II Regional appearance and their first since 1999.
The Diamond Dawgs are scheduled to open their 2006 season at the Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Cougar Classic (Feb. 25-26) in Edwardsville, Ill. FSU will go up against Missouri Western in its Feb. 25th season opener at 11 a.m. (CST).
|
