PEORIA, Ill. -- For the seventh consecutive year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has recognized the Bradley softball team for its academic achievement, naming the Braves one of the organization's 2010-11 All-Academic Teams. In addition, the Braves had eight individuals earn Division I All-American Scholar-Athlete honors according to the NFCA.
Bradley ranked 23rd among NCAA Division I teams with a 3.356 grade point average for the 2010-11 school year and the Braves had eight individuals named All-American Scholar-Athletes after posting a 3.50 grade point average or higher last year.
The top 30 national ranking is the fourth in the last seven years and highest for BU since ranking 17th in the country in 2006-07. Tennessee Tech led the nation with a 3.619 grade point average in 2010-11.
All 16 team members earned a spot on the Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll during the 2011 Spring semester and Brittany Fairbairn (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard West/Kankakee) earned Capital One Academic All-America honors following her senior season.
Joining Fairbairn as NFCA All-American Scholar-Athletes were Mariah Cole (Springfield, Ill./Chatham Glenwood), Denise Jilka (Eureka, Mo./Eureka), Katelyn Kegley (Pekin, Ill./Pekin), Alison Kresl (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara), Julie Sherman (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg), Kate Singler (Witt, Ill./Nokomis/Heartland) and Heather Terry (Jones, Okla./Jones). The trio of Cole, Jilka and Singler each earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages during the spring semester.
