From Washington University Athletics
The Washington University in St. Louis softball team was recognized as a 2016-17 Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-Academic Team, as announced by the Association.
The Bears posted a team cumulative GPA of 3.478 for the 2016-17 academic year, which ranked 35th in NCAA Division III. Newbury College topped the list for Division III with a team GPA of 3.695.
This past spring, WashU had two student-athletes earn 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District honors in Taylor Arends and Kenzie James. In addition, Arends earned Third-Team CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades, becoming the ninth player in school history to achieve the honor.
WashU also had nine student-athletes earn 2017 University Athletic Association (UAA) All-Academic honors: Arends, Maggie Clapp, Mackenzie Gauden, James, Anna McKee, Hannah Mehrle, Halle Steinberg, Hera Tang and Janet Taylor.
WashU finished the 2017 season with a 27-14 overall record under first-year head coach Michelle Venturella and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the 15th time in the last 16 years. The Bears were also the 2017 UAA Champion.