Central lands eight on softball academic squad
PELLA—The Central College softball team is again a leader in the classroom as eight players were named Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes.
The complete national list will be released this fall but the perennially powerful Dutch program has a tradition of academic achievement under NFCA Hall of Fame coach George Wares, ranking in the top 20 in All-America Scholar-Athletes in Division III seven times, including five top-10 academic finishes since 2010. Central had 10 honorees in 2018 and 14 in 2017.
The award recognizes those student-athletes who have posted a 3.50 grade point average or higher in the previous academic year. Central, which has made a record 30 NCAA Division III tournament appearances with four national championships, has had players receive NFCA Scholar-Athlete honors 107 times since 2010.
Catcher Kylie Olson (senior, Mapleton, Minn.) leads Central as a four-time NFCA honoree while center fielder Sara Tallman (junior, Pella) and pitcher Mariah Fritz (senior, Tama, East Marshall HS) were cited for the third time. First baseman Amanda Sigulas (junior, Morton, Ill.) is a two-time honoree.
Central College’s 2019 NFCA Scholar-Athletes
Name Yr. Hometown ’18-19 GPA Major
Lauren Bagby Sr. Norwalk, Iowa 3.72 Business management
Sadie Baugher Sr. Eddyille, Iowa 3.60 Exercise science-athletic training
Mariah Fritz Sr. Tama, Iowa 3.94 Integrated studies
Kamryn Hayes Fr. St. Joseph, Mo. 3.50 Undeclared
Kylie Olson Sr. Mapleton, Minn. 3.96 Biology
Danielle Riley Sr. Afton, Iowa 3.52 Exercise science-athletic training
Amanda Sigulas Jr. Morton, Ill. 3.60 Biology
Sara Tallman Jr. Pella, Iowa 4.00 Elementary education