FERRIS STATE SOFTBALL RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
 | Amber Sriver was among seven 2004 Ferris State Softball student-athletes to be honored as a national scholar-athlete by the NFCA, which also listed the Diamond Dawgs among the nation's top academic teams. |
The 2004 Ferris State University softball team has been recognized among the top academic teams in NCAA Division II by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as the Bulldogs tied for 42nd place with Henderson State University (Ark.). 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 2003-04 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, under seventh-year head coach Keri Becker, compiled a 3.074 GPA for the 2003-04 academic year. Central Missouri State posted the highest team GPA in Division II as its 3.838 was the highest GPA submitted by a collegiate team. Eastern Michigan had the highest GPA in Division I while Drew paced Division III.
In 2002, FSU placed fourth nationally after garnering 10th place in the previous season.
Individually, the NFCA acknowledged seven Bulldog softball student-athletes as scholar-athletes which is based on having a 3.5 GPA for the academic year. Honored were senior third baseman Dana Conklin (Wyoming/Rogers), freshman infielder-outfielder Laura Crower (Midland), junior second baseman Navreet Gill (Brampton, Ontario/Mayfield Secondary), freshman catcher Allison McKibbin (Hemlock), senior first baseman Nicki Merchant (Wayland), sophomore outfielder-first baseman Amber Sriver (Niles/Brandywine), and junior catcher Melissa Worsley (Midland).
Conklin, Gill, Merchant and Worsley were also named to the 2004 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) All-Academic Team following the spring season.
Ferris State finished the 2004 season with a 24-21-1 overall record, which included a third-place 14-6 GLIAC mark.
The Diamond Dawgs are scheduled to open their 2005 season March 3-13 at the Florida Rebel Spring Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla.
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