Another A+ for Golden Eagle softball team
Among Division I softball programs, coach Tory Acheson's Golden Eagles ranked fourth nationally last year with a 3.509 team grade point average, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- For the second straight year, the Tennessee
Tech softball team has been recognized by the National Fastpitch
Coaches Association (NFCA) as one of the top academic teams in the
nation.
When the NFCA announced the annual Girls Got Game Top 10
All-Academic Teams for 2008-09, a ranking based on GPAs submitted
for the school year, coach Tory Acheson's Golden Eagles are ranked
fourth.
"I am so proud of our players," Acheson said. "After the success
of last year and being ranked number one, these young ladies gave
themselves a challenge to repeat that success. When you put this in
perspective and see where Tennessee Tech stands academically among
all the teams out there, it's something each and every player is a
part of and can take pride in. It's something that stays with them
for the rest of their lives.
"Win or lose, they know their first priority at Tennessee Tech is
to receive an education, and they can say that the are among the
very best in the nation,"Acheson said.
Through this program, the NFCA honors high school and collegiate
softball teams for their success in the classroom. Tech was the
national champion in 2007-08 and nearly repeated that high success
with its fourth place finish in 2008-09.
Robert Morris University earned the top spot in Division I with a
3.610 GPA. Drexel was second at 3.527, followed by Indiana State at
3.523. The Golden Eagles combined to post a team GPA of 3.509. The
University of Florida rounded out the Top Five with a 3.490
GPA.
"We could not be any more prooud of coach Acheson and his
student-athletes for this achievement, and to be ranked two years
in a row really says something about their effort, dedication and
commitment to academic success," said Mark Wilson, TTU Director of
Athletics. "This ranking just reinforces what we already
know, that coach Acheson and his student-athletes are truly winners
in collegiate athletics."
This year’s top academic performers in six membership
categories (NCAA Divisions I, II, III; NAIA; junior college; and
high school weighted and non-weighted) are:
NCAA Division I
1. Robert Morris University, 3.610; 2. Drexel University, 3.527;
3. Indiana State University, 3.523; 4. Tennessee Tech
University, 3.509; 5. University of Florida, 3.490; 6.
Seton Hall University, 3.485; 7. Kent State University, 3.463; 8.
Brown University, 3.462; 9. Western Illinois University, 3.446; 10.
University of Alabama, 3.440.
NCAA Division II
1. Ouachita Baptist University, 3.663; 2. University of Arkansas,
Monticello, 3.579; 3. Barry University, 3.555; 4. Grand Valley
State University, 3.525; 5. Rockhurst University, 3.520; 6.
Mercyhurst College, 3.432; 7. Gannon University, 3.425; 8.
Augustana College; 3.420; 9. Anderson University, 3.416; 10.
Adelphi University, 3.414.
NCAA Division III
1. Emerson College, 3.531; 2. Piedmont College, 3.530; 3
Springfield College, 3.503; 4. Lynchburg College, 3.500; 5. Bowdoin
College, 3.494; 6. Otterbein College, 3.484; 7. Pomona-Pitzer
Colleges, 3.462; 8. Ithaca College, 3.458; 9. Gettysburg College,
3.395; 10. Kenyon College, 3.390.
NAIA
1. Bethel College, 3.545; 2. Peru State College, 3.486; 3.
McKendree University, 3.470; 4. Oklahoma City University, 3.461; 5.
Valley City State University, 3.457; 6. Lindenwood University,
3.440; 7. Central Methodist University, 3.427; 8. Saint Xavier
University, 3.396; 9. Mount Marty College, 3.392; 10. Vanguard
University of Southern California, 3.358.
Junior College
1. Wallace State Community College/Hanceville, 3.733; 2. Sussex
County Community College, 3.476; 3. (tie) Barton Community College,
3.455; 3. (tie) Central Community College, 3.455; 5. Iowa Western
Community College, 3.422; 6. Miami Dade College, 3.359; 7.
Hutchinson Community College, 3.320; 8. Northwest Florida State
College, 9. 3.306; Daytona State College, 3.300; 10. South Mountain
Community College, 3.267.
High School (weighted):
1. Washburn Rural High School, 4.269; 2. Alexander Central High
School, 4.260; 3. Splendora High School, 4.239; 4. Lincoln
Southwest High School, 4.193; 5. East Surry High School, 4.042; 6.
West Chester East High School, 4.031; 7. Yorktown High School,
4.021; 8. Blythewood High School, 4.015; 9. Adlai E. Stevenson High
School, 3.993; 10. Berea High School, 3.910.
High School (non-weighted):
1. (tie) Hopkins High School, 3.812; 1. (tie) Madison County High
School, 3.812; 3. Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, 3.777; 4.
Stephen Decatur High School, 3.742; 5. Allen County - Scottsville
High School, 3.731; 6. Jefferson Co High School, 3.723; 7. Joaquin
High School, 3.702; 8. Plainedge High School, 3.700; 9. Seymour
High School, 3.693; 10. Van High School, 3.690.
