APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University softball team and 11 of its student-athletes were honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for academic achievement.
    Lawrence posted a record number of Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes and were one of two Midwest Conference teams recognized for their excellent team grade point averages.
    The Vikings had a 3.53 team grade point average for the 2022-23 academic year, and that ranked 70th among all NCAA Division III schools.
    The 11 All-America Scholar-Athletes breaks the record of nine set in 2022. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete needed a minimum 3.5 grade point average for the 2022-23 academic year.
    Honored for the third consecutive year were Mary Boyle (Chicago, Ill./St. Ignatius), Laney Martens (Snowmass Village, Colo./Aspen) and Alyssa Sorensen (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville). Boyle, a junior catcher, is an English literature major. Martens, also a hockey standout for the Vikings, is a biology major. Sorensen, a senior outfielder, graduated with a degree in philosophy.
    Mattigan Haller (Eau Claire, Wis./North), Taylor Hughes (Wausau, Wis./West) and Khayla Santiago (Morton Grove, Ill./Maine East) were all honored for the second consecutive year. Haller, a sophomore outfielder/catcher, is a double major in biochemistry and Spanish. Hughes, a sophomore infielder, is an English (creative writing) major. Santiago, a sophomore outfielder, is a neuroscience major.
    Senior infielder Mikayla Jeneske (Molino, Fla./Northview) was honored for the first time and earned degrees in biology and psychology. Junior pitcher Lizzy Angemi (Hesperia, Calif./Sultana) also was honored for the first time and is an environmental studies major.
    Three first-year players, Janessa Gonzalez (Elk Grove Village, Ill./James B. Conant), Kourtney Mercer (Mazomanie, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) and Adrie Villa (Chino, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo), were also honored. Gonzalez, an infielder/outfielder, is undecided on a major. Mercer, a pitcher, is a biology major, and Villa, an outfielder, is an English (creative writing) major.
    Lawrence has had 73 student-athlete receive All-America Scholar-Athlete awards in the past 20 seasons.