McLean County Times

Illinois State Softball has secured a place among the top five cumulative team grade point averages (GPA) for NCAA Division I softball programs for the third consecutive year. The team posted a 3.779 GPA for the 2023-24 academic year, as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Easton Fastpitch.

In addition to achieving the fifth-best team GPA, 16 Redbird Softball athletes were named to the Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete team. To qualify for this recognition, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for the academic year.

"We are extremely proud of this group, and their tremendous pride and effort they hold in their academics," said head coach Tina Kramos. "Earning this honor for three consecutive years is not only a nod to their dedication in the classroom but also to the support staff who works tirelessly to help the student-athletes achieve their goals."

The team concluded the 2023-24 year with a 3.779 cumulative GPA in spring, following a record-setting fall semester. They were narrowly behind MVC rival Southern Illinois University (SIU), which led for the season.

Nine Redbird athletes achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA: Abby Knight, Abby Horton, Addison Masching, Bailah Bognar, Bella Wilkerson, Delainey Bryant, Emma Hicks, Hannah Meshnick, and Kaili Chval.

The team's academic excellence was further recognized within the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), where seven players earned MVC Scholar-Athlete honors. Juniors Delainey Bryant and Addison Masching received First Team honors while Bella Wilkerson, Kaili Chval, Abby Knight, Hannah Meshnick, and Abby Horton were named to the Second Team. Additionally, seniors Kaili Chval and juniors Delainey Bryant, Abby Knight, Addison Masching, and Bella Wilkerson were honored as Academic All-District members by College Sports Communicators (CSC).

For updates on Illinois State Softball activities and achievements throughout the season, follow them on Twitter (@RedbirdsSB), Instagram (@redbirdsoftball), and Facebook (Illinois State Redbird Softball).

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