Ten Softball Players Pick Up Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete Honors

NFCA RELEASE | EASTON/NFCA ALL-AMERICA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE |EASTON/NFCA TEAM GPA

LOUSIVILLE, Ky. – Suffolk softball saw 10 student-athletes recognized as Scholar-Athletes from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) in conjunction with East, the national organization announced Monday.

The 10 Rams were among 7,527 collegiate student-athletes across seven membership divisions to achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher for 2021-22. NCAA Division III led the way with 2,227 student-athletes making the mark in the classroom. 

Suffolk's 10 honorees hail from every class. Seniors Karina Bua, Caitlin Murphy and Kennedy Reyes, junior Ally Cifaratta and sophomores Ira Boci and Rebecca Gonzalez garnered the recognition for the second time in their careers, while junior Alexa White and freshmen Julia Newcomb, Diana Rucinski and Rebecca Zellin picked up the first for the first time. 

The Rams are one of five Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) teams to have players earn the distinction with Curry (8), Gordon (3), Roger Williams (12) and Salve Regina (10) all represented by at least one student-athlete. For a complete list of all Easton/NFCA Division III Scholar-Athletes, click here. 

Since 2013-14, Suffolk has seen 36 student-athletes combine for 67 NFCA Scholar-Athletes awards. The 10 nods this year are the second-most in a single year behind the dozen that were recognized in 2016-17.

Team wise, the Rams combined for a 3.343 team GPA in the first year under Janet Maguire's leadership, which is the 98th-best in NCAA DIII in 2021-22. Suffolk was one of three CCC teams to land within the top 100 in team GPA along with Salve Regina and Roger Williams, who were ranked 10th and 12th, respectively. For a full ranking of DIII team GPAs, click here. 

Suffolk appeared in the top 100 GPAs for the seventh time and first since the 2018-19 campaign.