LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For the second year in a row, Faulkner softball has earned the highest team GPA in the NAIA, as released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in its annual Easton Top 10 GPA rankings. 

The Lady Eagles posted a 3.897 GPA in 2024-25, easily outpacing their NAIA-best 3.795 mark in 2023-24. They were one of 14 programs and just nine from four-year institutions to earn at least 3.80. The team average was also the second highest among four-year schools, trailing only the 3.91 mark of NCAA Division I Saint Louis, and the third highest among all colleges as Paris Junior College led all programs with a 3.959. Just behind Faulkner is the NCAA Division II leader and local powerhouse Auburn University at Montgomery, coached by former Lady Eagle Scottie Wilkes Laney.  

See the full release below: 
 

National Fastpitch Coaches Association 

Brian Stanley, Director of Communications 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- August 7, 2025 

Paris Junior College records top team GPA; Over 9,000 earn 2024-25 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Paris Junior College (NJCAA) posted the top GPA as the NFCA revealed its Easton Top 10 GPAs for its collegiate divisions. Additionally, 9,176 collegiate student-athletes captured Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2024-25 academic year. 

Under the direction of head coach Shelby Shelton, Paris Junior College posted a 3.959 GPA in the classroom and topped all two-year programs. Along with Saint Louis University (3.910), Paris JC was just one of two programs to achieve a 3.9 mark, while a total of 13 teams earned a 3.8 GPA or better. Twenty-one Dragons earned scholar-athlete recognition. 

As previously mentioned, Christy Connoyer's Billikens collected top honors in NCAA Division I with the second highest overall GPA. For the second consecutive year, Hal Wynn's Faulkner University program bested NAIA with a 3.897 GPA. Auburn University at Montgomery (Scottie Wilkes) posted a 3.882 GPA to top NCAA Division II programs, while Worcester Polytechnic Institute led NCAA DIII with a 3.830 GPA. 

The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories. NCAA Division III led the way with 2,565 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2024-25. NCAA Division I followed with 2,544 and NCAA Division II with 2,156. Junior colleges and NAIA came in with 895 and 1,010 student-athletes respectively. Six student-athletes from Penn State Brandywine earned recognition in the Other Four-Year category. 

Team GPAs and scholar-athletes are submitted by member head coaches. High School team GPA winners and scholar-athletes will be announced on Sept. 1.  

Top-10 Teams 

NCAA Division I
1. Saint Louis University – 3.910; 2. Butler University – 3.809; 3. University of Nebraska Omaha – 3.787; 4. DePaul University – 3.783; 5. Jacksonville University – 3.767; t6. Western Kentucky University – 3.740; t6. Eastern Illinois University – 3.740; 8. University of Wisconsin, Green Bay – 3.737; 9. Southern Illinois University – 3.734; 10. Youngstown State University – 3.727. 

NCAA Division II
1. Auburn University at Montgomery – 3.882; 2. American International College – 3.811; 3. University of Central Missouri – 3.800; 4. Southwest Baptist University – 3.778; 5. Kentucky State University – 3.766; 6. Tusculum University – 3.750; 7. Molloy University – 3.747; 8. Mansfield University – 3.740; t9. Lee University – 3.736; t9. McKendree University – 3.736.

NCAA Division III
1. Worcester Polytechnic Institute – 3.830; 2. Pomona-Pitzer Colleges – 3.827; 3. Bates College – 3.790; 4. Middlebury College – 3.785; 5. Keuka College – 3.775; 6. Trine University – 3.774; t7. Johnson & Wales University – 3.770; t7. Wheaton College (Mass.) – 3.770; 9. Haverford College – 3.769; 10. Lancaster Bible College – 3.767. 

NAIA
1. Faulkner University – 3.897; 2. Grand View University – 3.830; 3. College of Coastal Georgia – 3.790; 4. Ottawa University (Kan.) – 3.773; 5. Graceland University – 3.756; 6. Spring Arbor University – 3.752; 7. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) – 3.743; 8. Missouri Baptist University – 3.670; 9. Central Methodist University – 3.662; 10. Peru State University – 3.651. 

Junior Colleges
1. Paris Junior College – 3.959; 2. Bryant & Stratton College - Wisconsin – 3.850; 3. Colby Community College – 3.820; t4. Indian Hills Community College – 3.800; t4. Parkland College – 3.800; 6. Itawamba Community College – 3.796; 7. McLennan Community College – 3.774; 8. Northwest-Shoals Community College – 3.758; 9. Eastern Oklahoma State College – 3.745; 10. University of South Carolina Union – 3.740.