Louisville, Ky. – A combined 17 Western Carolina softball student-athletes were named 2025-26 Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athletes by the organization this week. Additionally, the Catamounts were one of five Southern Conference teams recognized by the NFCA.
WCU posted a 3.662 collective team grade point average (GPA) last academic year, fourth among all SoCon schools. Mercer led the way, with Chattanooga, UNCG and Wofford completing the group of SoCon programs on the list.
The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories. NCAA Division I saw 2,637 student-athletes earn a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2025-26. A total of 8,850 collegiate student-athletes captured Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for 2025-26, according to a release by the organization.
This week's NFCA honors complete another successful academic year for the Catamount softball team that saw five student-athletes selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team following the 2026 season. Graduate Taylor Waitley (biology/forensic science), rising senior Lily Bell (business administration & law/marketing), and classmate Sydney Dirks (psychology) paced WCU on both honorary lists. A pair of rising juniors round out WCU's honorees as Courtney Marks (management/marketing) and pitcher Amanda Fulton (integrated health sciences).
A combined 13 Catamounts were named to the Spring 2026 Academic All-SoCon team as Waitley, Bell, Dirks, Marks, and Fulton were joined by graduated seniors Rylee Butler (communication sciences disorders), Tate Stewman (business administration & law and marketing), and Riley Pennington (biology), along with rising seniors Maya McPherson (management) and Becka Wonsick (integrated health sciences/psychology). A trio of rising juniors joined the academic All-SoCon list in AG Batson (psychology), Ava Giglio (management/marketing) and Tatum Martin (integrated health sciences).
WCU landed 21 student-athletes on the SoCon Academic Honor Roll, adding freshmen Sydnee Bumgarner, Briony Bunsic, Amari Burce, Emma Kindle, Kayden Lyda, Natalie Regan, Autumn Russell, and Kimber Shambley.
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2025-26 Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete All-America
Pitcher A.G. Batson
Infielder Lily Bell
Infielder Sydnee Bumgarner
Pitcher Briony Bunsic
Pitcher/Designated Player Amari Burce
Outfielder Rylee Butler
Outfielder Sydney Dirks
Pitcher Amanda Fulton
Utility Ava Giglio
Outfielder Emma Kindle
Outfielder Courtney Marks
Outfielder Tatum Martin
Infielder Maya McPherson
Catcher Autumn Russell
Infielder Tate Stewman
Catcher Taylor Waitley
Outfielder Becka Wonsick
