COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three Western New Mexico University softball players were named to the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Academic Teams Wednesday as announced by the conference office.
Higgins landed on the Second-Team as she holds a 3.54 GPA and is majoring in elementary education. The sophomore from Escondido, Calif., is tied for the team lead in home runs with four, while ranking third in batting average (.333) and has 12 RBI. She has seen action at third, second and first this season while playing and starting in every game. She was an All-RMAC Preseason selection to start the season.
A pair of seniors made honor roll in
Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) and
Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School). Vasquez from Ruidoso, N.M., holds a 3.37 GPA and is majoring in movement science (K-12). She has played in 40 games this season, starting 38 in the outfield and has 19 hits this season. Smith from Oakhurst, Calif., has played in seven games this season in the circle, as she tossed a scoreless inning last time out against Fort Lewis.
WNMU returns to action this weekend in Lakewood, Colo., where they will face UCCS and Colorado Christian with a doubleheader beginning on Saturday at 12 p.m.
First Team All-Academic
Name Pos. Year School Hometown GPA Major
#Chelsea Rodriguez 3B Jr. Fort Lewis Mesa, Ariz. 3.62 History
Molly Thiebaut INF Sr. Colorado Mines Pueblo, Colo. 3.41 Mechanical Engineering
Carlie Lucas OF Sr. Colorado St.-Pueblo Granada Hills, Calif. 3.93 Business Marketing
Lisa Pille 3B Sr. Colorado Mesa Ft. Collins, Colo. 3.76 Nursing
Justine Bosio P Sr. Colorado St.-Pueblo Santa Barbara, Calif. 3.36 K-12 Education
Chelsea Brew 1B So. Metro State Colorado Springs, Colo. 3.61 Biology
Jessica Belsterling P/DP Jr. UC-Colorado Springs Glendale, Ariz. 3.55 Health Science
Kelsey Sellars P So. Adams State Denver, Colo. 3.71 Business Admin./Accounting
Annalyse Garcia 2B Sr. Metro State Frederick, Colo. 3.86 Behavioral Science
Rachel Illias SS So. Regis Beaverton, Ore. 3.57 Health Professions & Related Programs
Cassie Ford C/INF So. Colorado Mines Ramona, Calif. 3.45 Civil Engineering
#- 2013 RMAC Academic Player of the Year
Second Team All-Academic
Name Pos. Year School Hometown GPA Major
Ashley Pulido P Jr. Colorado Mesa Ojai, Calif. 3.87 Kinesiology
Nikki Ritzen LF Sr. Chadron State Chadron, Neb. 3.69 Business Administration
Shannon Massine OF Sr. Regis Larkspur, Colo. 3.64 Biological/Biomedical Sciences
Alexa Snyder 2B So. Colorado St.-Pueblo Pueblo, Colo. 3.31 Biology
Brittany Styger C So. Colorado St.-Pueblo Kent, Wash. 3.83 Business management
Kelsey Tillery C Jr. Metro State Windsor, Colo. 3.52 Secondary Special Ed.
Shelbi Long C/3B/OF Sr. Colorado Christian Amarillo, Tex. 3.37 Social Science
Becca Smith P Sr. UC-Colorado Springs Solon, Iowa 3.48 History & Special Ed.
Jennie Archambault OF So. Adams State Portland, Ore. 3.52 Sport Management
Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) 1B So. Western New Mexico Escondido, Calif. 3.54 Elementary Education
*Susie Oury SS So. Metro State Arvada, Colo. 3.39 Fitness/Exercise Science
*Tess Oliphant OF Sr. N.M. Highlands Sparks, Nev. 3.60 Human Perform. & Sport
* - tied for final spot, so both student-athletes are recognized as second team.
Honor Roll
Name Pos. Year School Hometown GPA Major
Makenzie Soldavini OF R-Fr. Adams State Petaluma, Calif. 3.54 Nursing
Ryan Cook IF Jr. Black Hills State Rock Springs, Wyo. 3.56 Exercise Science
Brooke Grant OF Jr. Black Hills State Chadron, Neb. 3.65 Elementary Education
Alex Huntington P/OF Sr. Black Hills State Divide, Colo. 3.47 Exercise Science
Cassie Smith OF So. Black Hills State Colorado Springs, Colo. 4.00 Exercise Science
Amanda Einspahr SS So. Chadron State McCook, Neb. 3.48 Elementary Education
Ashlynn Marino C Sr. Chadron State Fresno, Calif. 3.60 Family/Consumer Science
Rebecca Wetsch CF So. Chadron State Erie, Colo. 3.46 Biology
Chelsea Blais 1B/3B Sr. Colorado Christian Castle Rock, Colo. 3.32 Liberal Arts
Rachel Boothe OF So. Colorado Mesa Thornton, Colo. 3.53 Graphic Design
Brooke Ortale OF So. Colorado Mesa Yorba Linda, Calif. 3.42 Sports Management
Tawnee Woosley OF So. Colorado Mesa Aztec, N.M. 3.46 Nursing
Lauren Aberle OF/INF Sr. Colorado Mines Fort Collins, Colo. 3.97 Computer Science
Sidney Bailey OF So. Colorado St.-Pueblo Pueblo, Colo. 3.37 Exercise Science
Lacey Chesser 3B Jr. Colorado St.-Pueblo Oxnard, Calif. 3.37 Sociology/Criminology
