Nov. 13, 2007

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced their Top All-Academic Teams, based on GPAs submitted for the 2006-07 school year and the George Mason's softball team was in the top 20 in the country for Division I, finishing tied for 18th with Iona College. The Patriots cumulative team grade point average was 3.370. St. Bonaventure finished first for the second consecutive year with a GPA of 3.622.

"Just like anything you do in life it's about choices," said head coach Joe Verbanic. "These young ladies have made a choice, they were not going to settle for anything less than excellence in academics. I am so proud of them because they have made a choice of responsibility and achieved something excellent in doing so. It's those kinds of decisions that change lives and shape futures. To be a part of a group of student-athletes that have chosen that path is what makes it all worthwhile. I want to thank them for letting me be a part of their success."

Fourteen student-athletes on the 2006-07 Mason softball roster accumulated a 3.2 GPA or better and were honored on the VaSID Academic All-State team and earned the Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner's Academic Award. Members of the team included: Rebecca Anderson, Alison Bryan, Jillian Chen, Kristin Dickel, Lesley Hassen, Rachel Hastings, Paige Krystofinski, Kelsey Mack, Sarah Martin, Emily Miller, Paige Miller, Shaniqua Steele, Arielle Wienkofsky and Katlyn Winter.

The University of Rio Grande (3.648) and Grand Canyon University (3.633) led their respective divisions, NAIA and D-II, for the second straight year.