2026 Easton/NFCA Academic Awards

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In a Wednesday announcement by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the Menlo College Softball program exemplified life in the balance, collectively earning the Easton/NFCA Team GPA Award. Along with that honor, 10 Oaks were named Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athletes for their stellar academic efforts.

Making The Plays
Combining to produce a 3.38 GPA as a team, the Oaks highlighted their 2026 campaign with 16 victories including a four-game sweep of Vanguard and culminated with two All-PacWest Team honorees. Away from the diamond, Menlo delivered 16 Academic All-PacWest selections which featured five CSC Academic All-District honorees.

In order to make the Easton/NFCA Team GPA Award, a program must have collectively delivered a 3.00 cumulative team grade point average or higher for the 2025-26 academic year. Menlo Softball was one of 100 teams to earn the honor this season and it was the program's first in the NCAA era as well as the second in program history.

NFCA Scholar-Athletes
Lucy Brooks – Psychology

Aleatha Buchner – Psychology

Sydney Capello – Business

Lara Edeker – Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Makayla Mentzer – Marketing

Sierra Pasco – International Business

Alina Perez – Psychology

Gabrielle Rodriguez – Psychology

Ella Underwood – Marketing

Emma Wilson – Marketing

To qualify for Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors, the student-athlete must have compiled a minimum GPA of 3.50 for the 2025-26 academic year. Menlo's 10 Oaks were among the 1,869 student-athletes who represented NCAA Division II with the prestigious selections.

This marks the second year to date in which Menlo has had at least six NFCA Scholar-Athletes.