MHC field hockey wins top academic honors
Field hockey student-athletes received numerous academic honors this year, making the squad one of the top academic teams in Division III.
With a 12-7 record, the field hockey team at Mount Holyoke College not only had a winning season last fall, it was also named one of the top five academic teams in Division III.
The members of the team collectively had a grade-point average of 3.68, tying the College for second with Springfield College.
In addition, 20 members of the team were named to the National Academic Squad and two players received Scholar of Distinction recognition. Only two other schools also had 20 student-athletes named. With six students named for the fourth time, Mount Holyoke tied for first among schools in its division for the number of four-year honorees.
Mount Holyoke has now been recognized each year during head coach Andy Whitcomb's 19-year career at the College.
“It is not a surprise that the high standards our field hockey team members hold for themselves on the playing field are maintained in the classroom,” said Lori A. Hendricks ’92, director of athletics. “I am so proud of all our student-athletes and coaches who prove on a daily basis that excellence need not be compartmentalized. It's the Lyons way of life.”
To be recognized for National Academic Team Award honors, a team must achieve a collective GPA of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester of the 2016 – 2017 academic year. Those named to the National Academic Squad must have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher through fall 2016.
Captain and goalie Liz DiCesare ’17 and midfielder Kathryn Rawson ’18 earned Scholar of Distinction honors this season, which meant they achieved a GPA of 3.9 or higher through their first semester of the 2016 – 2017 academic year. Rawson, an environmental studies major, has received this honor three years in a row and DiCesare, an economics major, has received it twice.
The rankings and honors are awarded annually by the 2016 ZAG Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
The Mount Holyoke field hockey team finished fifth in the conference standings this year.