VWC team, nine individuals earn national academic honors

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Virginia Wesleyan College's field hockey program is becoming synonymous with the best academic institutes in the country.

For the second year in a row the Virginia Wesleyan field hockey team has been honored by Gladiator and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association as a member of Division III National Academic Team Award.  The award is presented to colleges and universities across the country with a team GPA of 3.0 or better.

VWC joined Eastern Mennonite University, Lynchburg College, Sweet Briar College, and Washington and Lee University as the only teams from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference to receive the honor.

In addition to the team recognition, the Marlins were also honored individually as a program-record nine VWC student-athletes were named to the Gladiator/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad.  That number tops the former high of eight honorees in 2003. The individual awards mark the 13th time in the past 14 years that VWC field hockey players have been honored by the NFHCA for their academic work.

 Sophomores Nikki Cuthbert (Morrisville, Pa/Fairless Hills Pennsburg, biology and chemistry major, 3.75 GPA), Kelly Mullahy (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford, psychology, 3.85), and Kirsten Olson (Springfield, Va./ Lorton South County, business, 3.97) , all received their second national academic squad award. 

VWC's rookies took the spotlight with six team members on the all-academic team.  Danielle Pellerin (Long Valley, N.J./Chester West Morris Central, comprehensive liberal studies-curricular emphasis, 3.38), Tanya Puccio (Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark, biology, 4.0), Jordan Stellmacher (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson, psychology, 3.63), Skyler Weaver (Frederick, Md./Huntingtown, interdivisional studies, 3.68), Lauren Gold (Glendora, Calif./Glendora, interdivisional studies, 3.77), and Jenny Wilkins (Chespeake, Va./ Virginia Beach Bishop Sullivan Catholic, comprehensive liberal studies-curricular emphasis, 3.74) were all first time honorees on 2011 All-Academic  team.

The Marlins will attempt to continue their move forward in 2012.  The Marlins posted one of their best seasons in a few years in 2011 with an 8-9 record, 5-3 In the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, and advanced to the semifinals of the conference championship tournament.  The Marlins dropped that semi, 4-3 in overtime.

--AMDG--