Oct. 4, 2006

By Dawn Harmon, NAIA

The University of Rio Grande (Ohio) as at the top of the leader board for collegiate divisions for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Academic Team  honors.  Rio posted a team GPA of 3.750, besting the leaders in all three division of the NCAA and the NJCAA.  The NFCA Top Ten All-Academic Teams, based on cumulative grade-point averages, are submitted by NFCA member head coaches for the 2005-2006 academic year.  

Macalester College (Minn.) garnered the highest NCAA Division III GPA with a 3.660 mark, while St. Bonaventure University (N.Y.) (3.590) and Grand Canyon University (Ariz.) (3.604) led NCAA Divisions I and II, respectively. Iowa Western Community College topped the junior college ranks with a 3.459. 

"I think it speaks volumes, obviously for the intelligence of the girls, but also for their hard work and dedication," said Rio Grande head coach David Pyles. "To spend so much time on the road and still be able to maintain the grade point average that they maintain, like I said, speaks volumes about them and their hard work and dedication to both the classroom and the ball field."

This award is also a testimony to the type of student-athlete that Pyles set out to recruit when he started at Rio.

"I think it only makes your team better," Pyles said.  "If you recruit kids that have a hard work ethic and want to do well, not only on the ball field, but also in life I think it just makes your team that much better, if you get that type of kid."

Three Rio players were named to the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete team in May. Kristen Chevalier, Andrea Lotycz, and Jennifer Olding all posted cumulative GPA's of 3.50 or higher to earn the honor for juniors and seniors.

NFCA Top 10 All-Academic Teams (NAIA)
1.  University of Rio Grande 3.750  
2.  Concordia University (Calif.) 3.655
3.  Dana College (Neb.) 3.632
4.  Culver-Stockton College (Mo.) 3.550    
5.  Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio) 3.534    
6.  William Woods University (Mo.) 3.530    
7.  Tiffin University (Ohio) 3.517    
9.  Evangel University (Mo.) 3.500    
10. Bethel College (Ind.) 3.474
11. Iowa Wesleyan College 3.463