LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Faulkner softball has earned the highest team GPA in the NAIA for a third consecutive year, as released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Wednesday in its annual Easton Top 10 GPA rankings.
Faulkner posted a team-wide 3.808 GPA, edging out second-place Missouri Baptist which registered a 3.768. Additionally, these 21 Lady Eagles earned spots on the 2025-26 Easton/NFCA NAIA Scholar-Athlete All-America team by dint of their high performance in the classroom: Taylor Adams, Lana Atkins, Madelyn Becker, Bailea Boone, Morgan Brewer, Chloe Davidson, Abbie Davis, Abrianna Davis, Avery Goff, Mandi Hart, Campbell Hecklinski, Addyson Jarman, Kelbi Johnson, Addison Moseley, Hailey O'Brien, Ashtyn Pannell, Reece Patterson, Anna Catherine Segrest, Abby Terrell, Kensley Wesley and Sarah Williams.
The award adds another to a year that saw 16 players earn spots on the SSAC Athletic Solutions All-Academic Team and 12 place on the NAIA Spring Sport Scholar-Athlete Team. Davidson, Jarman, Williams, Segrest and Patterson earned CSC Academic All-District honors, the maximum number of nominees per team with a 3.97 marking the lowest GPA of the five, in addition to their All-SSAC honors for their play on the diamond. Davidson, Jarman and Williams earned the highest awards, placing on the SSAC Scholar-Athlete Team, with Davidson repeating as SSAC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and CSC Academic All-America honor list in addition to NFCA All-Region I and NAIA Third Team All-America honors for their accomplishments on the field.
See the full release below:
Paris Junior College repeats as top team GPA; Over 8,800 earn 2025-26 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the second consecutive year, Paris Junior College (NJCAA) is recognized as the top academic program as the NFCA revealed its Easton Top 10 GPAs for collegiate teams. Additionally, 8,850 collegiate student-athletes captured Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2025-26 academic year.
Under the direction of former head coach Shelby Shelton, Paris JC (pictured) posted a 3.942 GPA in the classroom, the lone program to achieve a 3.9 amongst all colleges on this year's lists. This came on the heels of a semifinal appearance at the 2026 NJCAA DI World Series. Following close by is another NJCAA program in Bryant & Stratton College – Wisconsin (Dean Herman) with a 3.88 GPA. NCAA Division I's Butler University and Eastern Illinois University grabbed the next two spots with 3.876 and 3.87 GPAs, followed by Bates College in NCAA Division III at 3.86.
Rounding out the top 10 are Lincoln Memorial University (NCAA DII – 3.853), Eastern Oklahoma State College (3.847 – NJCAA DI), University of Alabama Tuscaloosa (NCAA DI – 3.844), McLennan Community College (NJCAA DI – 3.82) and University of Hartford (NCAA DIII – 3.818).
A total of 14 teams charted a 3.8 or better, which included each top group member – Butler University (NCAA DI), Lincoln Memorial University (NCAA DII), Bates College (NCAA DIII) and Faulkner University (NAIA) - with an additional 66 programs that achieved a 3.7 or better.
For a third consecutive year, Hal Wynn's Faulkner bested the NAIA with a 3.808 GPA. In NCAA Division I, Butler (Scott Hall) edged out Eastern Illinois (Kristi Paulson) by a mere .006 points. Lincoln Memorial (Ritchie Richardson) topped NCAA Division II programs, while Bates (Katharine McKay) led NCAA DIII.
The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories. NCAA Division I led the way with 2,637 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2025-26. NCAA Division III followed with 2,491 and NCAA Division II with 1,869. Junior colleges and NAIA came in with 1,190 and 655 student-athletes respectively. Seven student-athletes from Bay Path University 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. 9.
Top-10 Teams:
NCAA Division I
1. Butler University – 3.876; 2. Eastern Illinois University – 3.87; 3. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa – 3.844; 4. Saint Louis University – 3.813; 5. University of Nebraska Omaha – 3.802; 6. Coastal Carolina University – 3.778; 7. University of New Mexico – 3.777; 8. Western Kentucky University – 3.773; 9. Wichita State University – 3.769; 10. Youngstown State University – 3.76
NCAA Division II
1. Lincoln Memorial University – 3.853; 2. Missouri Southern State University – 3.813; 3. Mansfield University – 3.79; 4. Black Hills State University – 3.758; 5. Wayne State University – 3.757; 6. Saint Leo University – 3.744; 7. Rockhurst University – 3.743; 8. Indiana University of Pennsylvania – 3.742; t9. American International College – 3.74; t9. Bemidji State University – 3.74; t9. Oklahoma Baptist University – 3.74
NCAA Division III
1. Bates College – 3.86; 2. University of Hartford – 3.818; 3. Pomona-Pitzer Colleges – 3.799; 4. Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) – 3.782; 5. Wheaton College (Mass.) – 3.771; 6. Trine University – 3.755; 7. Stevens Institute of Technology – 3.749; 8. Neumann University – 3.744; 9. Springfield College – 3.734; 10. Lancaster Bible College – 3.73
NAIA
1. Faulkner University- 3.808; 2. Missouri Baptist University – 3.768; 3. Spring Arbor University – 3.7649; 4. Central Baptist College – 3.752; 5. College of Coastal Georgia – 3.75; 6. William Carey University – 3.74; 7. Oklahoma City University – 3.71; 8. Brenau University – 3.705; 9. Bellevue University – 3.688; 10. Central Methodist University – 3.679
Junior College
1. Paris Junior College – 3.942; 2. Bryant & Stratton College - Wisconsin – 3.88; 3. Eastern Oklahoma State College – 3.847; 4. McLennan Community College – 3.82; 5. Parkland College – 3.8; 6. University of South Carolina Union – 3.79; 7. Central Community College – 3.785; 8. Pitt Community College – 3.759; 9. Temple College – 3.737; 10. Northeast Mississippi Community College – 3.693
