NFCA RELEASE | EASTON/NFCA TEAM GPA | EASTON/NFCA ALL-AMERICA SCHOLARS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the second straight season, Suffolk softball had a record number of Rams receive Easton/national Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete honors with 13 distinctions, the national organization unveiled.  

The baker's dozen Rams were among the over 8,000 collegiate student-athletes across seven membership divisions to achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher in 2023-24.  

Suffolk's 13 honorees tie the most in the Rams' record books, which has seen an individual in blue-and-gold recognized with the academic feat since 2013-14. Overall, 46 Suffolk student-athletes have combined for 93 NFCA Scholar-Athlete awards. 

The 13 Rams hail from every class. Juniors Becky Zellin, Julia Newcomb and Diana Rucinski scooped up the distinction for the third time in their careers, while classmates Ashlyn Conley and Ella Turnbull and senior Lily O'Neil and sophomore Bella Rocha-Medeiros were repeat honorees. Junior Lily Gustafson and freshmen Maddie Baita, Sara Butera, Hannah McHale, Julia Mills and Cynthia Rucinski took home the feat for the first time.  

Suffolk was one of four Conference of New England (CNE) teams to have players take home the distinction. The Rams had the most recipients with 13 with Roger Williams' 11 falling second. Hartford was represented by eight and Curry rounded out the group with seven. 

Team wise, the Rams combined for a 3.539 team GPA, which is the 68th-best in NCAA Division III in 2023-24. Suffolk is the only CNE team to land within the top 100 in the team GPA. The blue-and-gold appeared in the top 100 GPAs for the ninth time and third straight season.