Southland Academic All-Conference teams
In total, 10 institutions were represented among the 2021 Southland Academic All-Conference teams with McNeese leading the way with five selections. Central Arkansas, Houston Baptist and Stephen F. Austin came in next with four selections apiece, while Northwestern State accounted for three honorees each. Sam Houston nabbed two spots, and Abilene Christian, UIW, Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana rounded out the rosters with one representative each.
Ten members of the All-Academic first and second teams have compiled perfect 4.0 GPAs. Eleven members of the Southland All-Conference Team were automatic qualifiers to the all-academic first team, with McNeese sophomore Whitney Tate earning the most votes to secure her spot on the first team. There were eight repeat selections among the first and second teams, including Sam Houston grad student Megan McDonald on the first team and Northwestern State senior Kaitlyn St. Clair, who were three-time honorees.
The All-Academic teams are voted on by head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance staff members from each Southland Conference institution. Student-athletes must possess a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution to qualify for All-Academic selection, and have competed in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests on the season, excluding pitchers.
The Southland Conference awards committee, which consists of one administrator from each of the 13 member schools, votes for the Student-Athlete of the Year. The Southland Student-Athlete of the Year award is presented to one student-athlete who achieves excellence in both academics and athletics. All nominees must have earned at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and demonstrated athletics achievement for at least two years at the nominating institution.
2021 Southland Conference Softball All-Academic Teams
First Team Name Institution Class Hometown GPA Major Kayla Beaver Central Arkansas So. Jackson, Tenn. 3.38 Communications Jenna Wildeman ^ Central Arkansas So. Bentonville, Ark. 4.00 Education Heidi Jaquez 2 Houston Baptist Gr. Wharton, Texas 4.00 Master’s, Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Psychology Haylee Brinlee McNeese So. Rosepine, La. 3.31 Agriculture Animal Science Cori McCrary 2 McNeese Gr. McCarley, Miss. 4.00 Health & Human Performance Whitney Tate McNeese So. Columbia, La. 4.00 Biology/Pre-Med E.C. Delafield Northwestern State Sr. Stonewall, La. 3.38 Health & Exercise Science Megan McDonald 3 Sam Houston Gr. Georgetown, Texas 4.00 Master’s, Public Administration Aeriyl Mass Southeastern La. Jr. Lake Charles, La. 3.01 Criminal Justice Shaylon Govan Stephen F. Austin So. Katy, Texas 3.50 Nursing Bryana Novegil Stephen F. Austin Sr. Houston, Texas 3.20 Sports Business Kassidy Wilbur Stephen F. Austin Jr. Bridge City, Texas 3.34 Kinesiology Second Team Name Institution Class Hometown GPA Major Donelle Johnson Abilene Christian Gr. McKinney, Texas 3.55 Master’s, Conflict Management Mary Kate Brown Central Arkansas So. Atkins, Ark. 3.83 Family and Consumer Science Jordan Johnson 2 Central Arkansas Jr. Paola, Kan. 3.90 Homeland Security & Law Enforcement Caitlyn Brockway 2 Houston Baptist Jr. Tomball, Texas 3.69 Psychology Jasie Roberts Houston Baptist So. Pasadena, Texas 3.94 Biochemistry/Molecular Bio Sarah Venker Houston Baptist Jr. Houston, Texas 4.00 Nursing Kendall McGary UIW So. Katy, Texas 4.00 Business Marketing Kaylee Lopez McNeese So. Indian Bayou, La. 3.74 Early Childhood Education Alayis Seneca 2 McNeese Sr. The Woodlands, Texas 4.00 Health & Human Performance Kennedy Hebert 2 Nicholls Jr. Morgan City, La. 4.00 Accounting Keely DuBois Northwestern State So. Robeline, La. 3.78 Human Health & Performance Kaitlyn St. Clair 3 Northwestern State Sr. Cypress, Texas 3.66 Psychology Ellie Grill Sam Houston So. Angleton, Texas 4.00 Education Gaby Garcia Stephen F. Austin So. Southlake, Texas 3.90 Marketing
^ – 2021 Southland Softball Student-Athlete of the Year
2 – Two-time All-Academic selection
3 – Three-time All-Academic selection
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