Softball recognized for GPA
Western Illinois University Athletic Media Services
Issue date: 9/30/09 Section: Sports
For the second consecutive year, the Western Illinois softball was recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for academic success in the classroom as they finished the 2008-09 academic year with the nation's ninth-best grade point average.
The Fighting Leatherneck softball team was named to the NFCAs Girls Got Game Top 10 All-Academic Division I softball team after finishing last year with an overall 3.446 team GPA.
"I am very proud of our girls because they work very hard on and off the field," said Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "It was a goal we set last year to break into the top 10 and it's exciting for the girls to reach their goals."
During the 2007-08 academic year, the softball team was recognized with the 15th highest GPA as they earned a 3.38 GPA collectively.
Not only has the team done well in the classroom, but they are in good company with only one other team in the nation to win their respective regular-season conference championship and rank in the top-10 nationally in team GPA's - the 2009 College World Series runner-up Florida Gators ranked fifth on the list.
"The players' goals are to be the best they can be on and off the field," Van Vlymen said. "They want to be known for doing both, so it's an honor to be named to the top 10. They are a great group of girls, and I couldn't ask for a better team of hard workers."
Fifteen of the players from last season were named to The Summit League's all-academic team for earning a 3.0 GPA or higher during the academic year and every returner on the 2010 roster earned a 3.0 GPA or higher last year.
Additionally, the Leathernecks stand in a league of their own as the only team in The Summit League and in the state of Illinois to be recognized in the top 10 academically.
"It's not me, it's our team," Van Vlymen said when asked what the secret is to the team's academic success. "The student-athletes we have want to the be the best in the classroom and on the field. The girls put school first, softball second and their social life last. We stress as a coaching staff how important it is to go to class, get good grades and graduate with a degree because that is what this is all about. Without doing that, it (softball) means nothing."
The Fighting Leatherneck softball team was named to the NFCAs Girls Got Game Top 10 All-Academic Division I softball team after finishing last year with an overall 3.446 team GPA.
"I am very proud of our girls because they work very hard on and off the field," said Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "It was a goal we set last year to break into the top 10 and it's exciting for the girls to reach their goals."
During the 2007-08 academic year, the softball team was recognized with the 15th highest GPA as they earned a 3.38 GPA collectively.
Not only has the team done well in the classroom, but they are in good company with only one other team in the nation to win their respective regular-season conference championship and rank in the top-10 nationally in team GPA's - the 2009 College World Series runner-up Florida Gators ranked fifth on the list.
"The players' goals are to be the best they can be on and off the field," Van Vlymen said. "They want to be known for doing both, so it's an honor to be named to the top 10. They are a great group of girls, and I couldn't ask for a better team of hard workers."
Fifteen of the players from last season were named to The Summit League's all-academic team for earning a 3.0 GPA or higher during the academic year and every returner on the 2010 roster earned a 3.0 GPA or higher last year.
Additionally, the Leathernecks stand in a league of their own as the only team in The Summit League and in the state of Illinois to be recognized in the top 10 academically.
"It's not me, it's our team," Van Vlymen said when asked what the secret is to the team's academic success. "The student-athletes we have want to the be the best in the classroom and on the field. The girls put school first, softball second and their social life last. We stress as a coaching staff how important it is to go to class, get good grades and graduate with a degree because that is what this is all about. Without doing that, it (softball) means nothing."
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