WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University student-athletes continued to rack up academic honors on Monday, as 12 members of the Cardinal fastpitch softball team were named Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes, while the SMU team was recognized for its 3.35 cumulative team grade-point-average.
 
The NFCA announced that 7,527 collegiate student-athletes captured Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2021-22 academic year. NCAA Division III led the way with 2,227 student-athletes earning a 3.50 grade-point average or higher for 2021-22. NCAA Division I followed with 2,155 and NCAA Division II with 1,646. Junior Colleges and NAIA came in with 756 and 736 student-athletes respectively, with USCAA member Penn State Brandywine earning seven scholar-athlete nods.
 
Members of the Saint Mary's fastpitch softball team who made the grade included: Brittney Blacker (Castle Rock, Colo.), Mackenzie Carey (Prescott, Wis.), Allison Ciero (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), Katelyn Cruze (Litchfield, Minn.), Michelle Doering (St. Louis Park, Minn.), Izzy Griffin (West St. Paul, Minn.), Madison Kindler (Sussex, Wis.), Emma Kral (Emmetsburg, Iowa), Abby Nosbisch (Chatfield, Minn.), Michelle Smith (Oak Lawn, Ill.), Erin Sullivan (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.), and Savannah Swanson (Marengo, Ill.).
 
The Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes selections were just the latest for the Cardinals, who had six members — Nosbisch, Carey, Cruze, Blacker, Sullivan, and Riley Hall (Dallas Center, Iowa) — named Academic All-MIAC in late June.