Completed Event: Softball at Colorado State on May 2, 2026 , Win , 11, to, 2 , (5 inn.)
Softball
at Colorado State
W 11-2
Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU earns No. 1 GPA Ranking among NCAA Division I softball programs
10/6/2016 3:07:00 PM | Softball, S-A Development
PHOENIX - With a 3.670 grade-point average the Grand Canyon softball team has the highest GPA among Division I Softball Programs, the National Fastpitch Association (NFCA) announced Thursday. The Lopes also had 17 student-athletes named to the Easton/NFCA Division I Scholar-Athletes team.
This marks the sixth time in program history the Lopes have earned the first place honor and the first time since 2012. This is also the first time softball has earned the honor since transiting to Division I.
"Academic success has been a part of our philosophy from the very beginning when the program started," head coach Ann Pierson said. "We're fortunate to have kids that have bought into the philosophy and that are committed to striving to be their best in the classroom."
The Lopes (3.670) who came in second place last year to Lipscomb, collected the first place prize for the 2015-16 academic school year. The Easton/NFCA Top-10 All-Academic Teams also included, Nebraska Omaha (3.643), Saint Louis (3.641), Southern Illinois (3.627), Western Carolina (3.607), Georgia State (3.595), DePaul (3.591), Harvard (3.590), Fairfield (3.589) and Missouri State (3.569).
NCAA Division I schools led the country with 1,240 scholar-athletes. The division also had the most student-athletes with a 3.5 grand-point average or higher among NCAA Division I,II and NAIA member institutions.
With 17 named to the Easton/NFCA Division I Scholar-Athletes team, the Lopes surpassed last year's group of 14. GCU's Heaven Acquart, Bianca Boling, Jenna Coates, Madelyn Dowdle, Taylor Escobar, Laynee Gomez, Nikki Gonzalez, Kendsey Hill, Logan Johnston, Taylor Kaye, Hailey Maher, Nicole Newbury, Kailey Regester, Shea Smith, Sierra Smith, Mariah Valencia and Camree Wartman were all named to the scholar-athletes squad.
Head coach Ann Pierson and her staff pride themselves on excellence in the classroom and on the field. Through the student-athletes hard work and dedication they have continued to excel academically and are reaping the rewards as a result.
"We're fortunate to have Jason Frank, Jason Linders the rest of the academic staff, our administration and certainly the professors that work with the student-athletes not only to educate them, but also to push them to be their best selves," Pierson added.
This marks the sixth time in program history the Lopes have earned the first place honor and the first time since 2012. This is also the first time softball has earned the honor since transiting to Division I.
"Academic success has been a part of our philosophy from the very beginning when the program started," head coach Ann Pierson said. "We're fortunate to have kids that have bought into the philosophy and that are committed to striving to be their best in the classroom."
The Lopes (3.670) who came in second place last year to Lipscomb, collected the first place prize for the 2015-16 academic school year. The Easton/NFCA Top-10 All-Academic Teams also included, Nebraska Omaha (3.643), Saint Louis (3.641), Southern Illinois (3.627), Western Carolina (3.607), Georgia State (3.595), DePaul (3.591), Harvard (3.590), Fairfield (3.589) and Missouri State (3.569).
NCAA Division I schools led the country with 1,240 scholar-athletes. The division also had the most student-athletes with a 3.5 grand-point average or higher among NCAA Division I,II and NAIA member institutions.
With 17 named to the Easton/NFCA Division I Scholar-Athletes team, the Lopes surpassed last year's group of 14. GCU's Heaven Acquart, Bianca Boling, Jenna Coates, Madelyn Dowdle, Taylor Escobar, Laynee Gomez, Nikki Gonzalez, Kendsey Hill, Logan Johnston, Taylor Kaye, Hailey Maher, Nicole Newbury, Kailey Regester, Shea Smith, Sierra Smith, Mariah Valencia and Camree Wartman were all named to the scholar-athletes squad.
Head coach Ann Pierson and her staff pride themselves on excellence in the classroom and on the field. Through the student-athletes hard work and dedication they have continued to excel academically and are reaping the rewards as a result.
"We're fortunate to have Jason Frank, Jason Linders the rest of the academic staff, our administration and certainly the professors that work with the student-athletes not only to educate them, but also to push them to be their best selves," Pierson added.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF/C
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
3B/2B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball"We come to play every single day..."
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The Lopes Walk It Off
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