SIC Softball Receives NJCAA Academic Recognition
The 2011-12 NJCAA All-Academic Teams were announced this summer and the Southeastern Illinois College Lady Falcon Softball team was recognized for attaining a team GPA of 3.05. A team must attain a 3.00 to get recognition. The top team in the nation was Wabash Valley at 3.62. This is quite an achievement as the Falcons were one of 85 softball programs in the nation recognized by the NJCAA. Other sports had far fewer teams recognized nationally.
This is the first Falcon athletic team to earn this honor in many years. Jack Mummert, SIC Math Instructor and volunteer for SIC athletics, noted, “We have had many individual players recognized for academic achievement, but have not garnered full team recognition in the last several years.”
Coach Ross Hill said, “I am very proud of the team for attaining this distinction. These girls practiced daily during the season and played 22 fall games last year and 52 spring games — only two of which were at our home field because of the Leap Day Tornado – and still maintained this GPA.”
The fields have undergone repairs and renovations since the Feb. 29 storm, and Southeastern teams are now practicing at their home facility. According to athletic director, Jeremy Irlbeck, fences are nearly complete, the press box is constructed, bleachers are in and scoreboards are scheduled to be installed this fall. Additionally, irrigation systems are being updated to help maintain the fields. The Lady Falcons have a home game on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. against Shawnee Community College. The complete fall schedule can be found at www.sic.edu/athletics.
Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg was founded in 1960 and sustains accountability, ranking sixth in the state for degree and certificate completion. The college offers nearly 120 certificate and degree programs, as well as specialized training in a multitude of interest areas. SIC maintains affordability with some of the lowest tuition rates in the state at $88 per credit hour. Southeastern provides accessibility as the area’s leader in online classes, successful high school dual credit programs, accelerated courses and night classes.
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