Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Field Hockey Earns NFHCA Academic Honors
3/26/2010 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
March 26, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Eleven members of Bucknell field hockey were named to the 2009 Gladiator by SGI/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Academic Squad on Friday. The Bison also received the organization's Collegiate National Academic Team Award for posting a team grade-point average of better than 3.0 during the fall semester.
The Bison had several repeat performers on the National Academic Squad, including four-time honorees Jessie Atieh (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex), Sarah Ebright (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Austin Thomas (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock). Junior Christine Weiss (Bethlehem, Pa./Southern Lehigh) earned her third selection, while sophomores Kate Bowen (Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), Marci Richard (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley), Mallory Smith (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and Sarah Zargarpour (North Vancouver, Canada/Handsworth Secondary) were named to the team for a second time.
To be eligible for the National Academic Squad, student-athletes must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of 2009-10. A total of 697 field hockey players were recognized nationwide, and American led all institutions with 17 honorees.
Bucknell was one of 63 squads to earn the Collegiate National Academic Team Award. Old Dominion posted the nation's top team GPA of 3.52.
Academic accolades are not new to the Bison. They placed 12 student-athletes on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll this fall with a league-leading four players with perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Bucknell finished the 2009 season with a 12-7 record overall. The Bison's 4-1 record in the Patriot League tied them for first, giving them their best league placing in program history.
Bucknell's National Academic Squad Members
Jessie Atieh
Ellie Barrett
Kate Bowen
Sarah Ebright
Caroline Merrell
Marci Richard
Tayler Siegrist
Mallory Smith
Austin Thomas
Christine Weiss
Sarah Zargarpour
