Lincoln College Softball Receives National Recognition
Honored as top academic team in their sport

[July 14, 2017]  LINCOLN - The Lincoln College Softball team has been named the top academic team in the nation by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for the 2016-2017 season. Over 130 softball teams from across the country qualified for consideration for the honor by earning a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Lynx softball squad topped them all with a team GPA of 3.74. This was the fourth highest team GPA among all NJCAA sports.

Lincoln College Softball Coach Crystal Wurth is pleased with her team’s accomplishment. "We are so proud of our girls! Last year we were 2nd in the nation for Academic All American Team by two tenths of a point. I know how hard the girls work individually, during required library hours and study tables, so to receive #1 in the nation for academics is a fitting reward.”

Wurth points out that her sport has some unique challenges when it comes to sustaining academic success. “Spring softball season is difficult because for six weeks we have to deal with unpredictable weather and rainouts which affects not only the students but the instructors. In-class instruction is often missed for multiple days in a row. This means our players have to be diligent with time management in order to stay current on their studies.”

Coach Wurth is also quick to recognize the role the Lincoln College faculty and support staff have played in this achievement.

 “The Softball Team would like to thank the Lincoln College faculty members for taking the time to have assignments ready early, being flexible and working with our schedule.” Wurth added, “Also, thank you to the tutors in the Academic Success Center and the athletic office staff for assisting our student-athletes throughout the year."

Eleven individual members of the softball team earned NJCAA Academic All-American honors this year and 12 qualified for Academic All-Conference status out of 15 team members.

Three other sports at Lincoln College received Honorable Mention recognition from the NJCAA for their academic success. These teams included Baseball (3.32), Women’s Volleyball (3.53) and Women’s Golf (3.17).

[Mark Tippett]