The Northern Illinois University softball team posted the 14th-best team GPA in all of Division I softball, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) announced Monday. Additionally, NIU saw 12 student-athletes receive Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2021-22 academic year.
The Huskies had a cumulative team GPA of 3.639, the 14th-best in the nation and best in the Mid-American Conference.
The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association’s membership categories. In total, 2,155 Division I softball student-athletes earned a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2021-22.
To qualify for this distinction, athletes must have maintained at least a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA for the 2021-22 academic year. Team GPAs and scholar-athletes are submitted by member head coaches.
Below are the 12 Huskies who were named Scholar-Athletes.
Kara Apato (Oak Lawn, Ill. / Marist)
Bianca Barone (Machesney Park, Ill. / Harlem)
Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa / Johnston)
Emily Dato (Munster, Ind. / Munster)
Katie Keller (Geneva, Ill. / Geneva)
Maddie Mackey (Geneseo, Ill. / Geneseo)
Mackenzie Mahy (New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln-Way West)
Delaney Ostrowski (Geneseo, Ill. / Geneseo)
Kacie Quick (Bloomington, Ill. / Normal West)
Amberly Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill. / Plainfield)
Izzy Shafer (Dalton City, Ill. / Mt. Zion)
Kelly Walinski (Worth, Ill. / Marist)
Top-10 Teams
NCAA Division I
1. Harvard – 3.760; 2. Illinois State – 3.716; 3. Green Bay – 3.7122.; 4. Hartford – 3.700; 5. IUPUI – 3.695; 6. Central Arkansas – 3.694; t7. DePaul – 3.682; t7. Elon – 3.682; 9. Northern Iowa – 3.680; 10. Dayton – 3.654