Five University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball players have been recognized for their success in the classroom with Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators including
Rhiann Dick (Palatine, Ill./Palatine),
Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson),
Maggie Ward (Downers Grove, Ill./North),
Kate Cleveland (DePere, Wis./Ashwaubenon) and
Meghan Dunning (Plainfield, Ill./South).
The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes must be of at least sophomore status and carry a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50. Student-athletes must have competed in 90-percent of the team's games or started in at least 66-percent of the team's contests to be eligible.
Dick, a senior pitcher, has a 3.93 cumulative grade point average in Elementary/Middle Education with a minor in English as a second language. The lefty made 19 appearances with a 6-3 record in the circle. An honorable mention All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pick, Dick registered a 2.66 earned run average in 71.0 innings of work.
Kostroski, a psychology major, holds a 3.69 cumulative grade point average. A utility player, Kostroski saw time in the outfield, behind the plate and at first base this season. A Third Team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selection and All-WIAC honoree, Kostroski was one of the top hitters for the Warhawks this season. She was top two on the team in OPS (1.120), runs scored (34), doubles (11), triples (2), homeruns (7), slugging percentage (.672), batting average (.384), hits (48), runs batted in (26) and walks (16). Defensively, the junior was stellar with an unblemished fielding percentage -- zero errors in 91 chances.
Ward, an outfielder, carries a 3.97 grade point average in marketing through her sophomore campaign. Ward played in 41 games this season, starting in 35. She registered 24 hits in 96 at bats with three doubles and a team-high two triples. Ward added 16 runs scored and 11 runs batted in on the season.
Cleveland boasts a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the applied kinesiology graduate program at UWW. Academically, she will moving on to UW-Madison to complete a doctorate in pharmacy. This season, Cleveland appeared in 15 games holding a 2.70 earned run average in the circle. She tossed 33.2 innings and posted a record of 3-1.
Dunning, a communications sciences and disorders major, has a 3.89 cumulative grade point average. The senior started all 43 games for the Warhawks this season either in centerfield or at shortstop. She scored 15 runs and knocked in 9 on 22 hits with 6 doubles, a triple and 3 homers. Dunning will be continuing her academic career at UW-Whitewater in graduate school seeking a master's in speech language pathology.
