LOUISVILLE, KY. - Eight Fredonia State softball players were recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) for their academic achievements. To be recognized as an NFCA Scholar Athlete, student-athletes must have achieved a 3.50 or better GPA during the 2011-2012 academic year.
The eight Devils represents the most of any SUNYAC team. Brittany Lis led the Blue Devils with a 4.0 GPA and graduated in May with a degree in Childhood Education.
Fellow seniors Ashley LaPorta, Rachel Burrows and Jennifer Tighe also made the list. Returnees Tina Schwartzmeyer, Danielle Shelp, Raela Wiley and Anne Wasik (Fredonia) were acknowledged as well.
Thousands of student-athletes representing almost 600 different academic institutions have been recognized in the past year as NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes. The honor marks the second component of the Association's academic award program. In October, the squads with the highest GPAs in each membership category were recognized as 2012 NFCA Top Ten All-Academic Teams.
A total of 134 Division III teams had student-athletes recognized.
Men's Soccer
Two teams revisit with Special Olympians
Two Fredonia State athletic teams have resumed their involvement with Special Olympics in 2012-13.
The women's volleyball and men's soccer teams have hosted monthly bowling parties at Lucky Lanes on Bennett Road, Fredonia.
Team members cheered on the athletes, helped to serve pizza and drink, and even got to do a little bowling of their own.
Both teams adopted Special Olympics as a community service project during the 2011-12 academic years. Coaches and student-athletes attended workshops in advance of the bowling outings.
NCAA Division III schools adopted the Special Olympics as its division-wide community service initiative in January 2011.
Also, the men's soccer team again sent volunteers to assist the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Youth Organization with its annual Christmas basket project. This year's volunteers were Brodie Fenton, Sam Guider, Josh Best, Jake Persons, and Jay Dry, as well as assistant coach Dan Smith.
