Academic Honors & World Tournaments Highlights of Softball Offseason

Even when our season isn't in swing, the Daytona State College women's softball team is still on the move. This summer, the Falcons have much to celebrate. From receiving the NJCAA's top academic honors to playing for world championships, it's been a busy and exciting offseason for DSC.

NJCAA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM HONORS

Earlier this month, the NJCAA released the 2016-17 academic honor awards. While the Falcon women's golf and men's baseball teams took the top female and male academic team awards respectively, the DSC softball team also performed well in the classroom. The Lady Falcons softball squad earned an honorable mention in the NJCAA Women's Academic Team of the Year category with a 3.38 team GPA and eight players took home All-Academic Honors.

Freshmen Alicia Tomberlin (Oviedo, FL) and Miranda Green (Oviedo, FL) both earned First Team All-Academic honors with a GPA of 4.0. Fellow freshman Sydney Chester (Ocala, FL) and sophomore Holli Jones (Titusville, FL) took home Second Team honors with a GPA between 3.8 and 3.99. Four Falcons -- including sophomores Kendall Arcia (Winter Garden, FL), Amanda Nikhazy (Windemere, FL) and Megan Woodson (Oviedo, FL) as well as freshman Olivia Printiss (Gulf Breeze, FL) were named to the Third Team for a GPA between 3.6 and 3.79.

"This is a tremendous honor that speaks highly of our hard-working student-athletes, their coaches, advisors and our college faculty," said Tom LoBasso, DSC president. "Education comes first for all of our athletes, and while we're always excited to see them succeed on the field, the real reward for us is their high performance in the classroom and how it translates to post-graduate success."

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY

Two softball stars are representing Daytona State while playing for their national teams this summer. Pitcher Tina Velazquez is playing for Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation Jr. Women's Softball World Championship. The tournament takes place in Clearwater, FL, from July 24 to July 30. 

While Velazquez hopes to lead P.R. to a world title, fellow Falcon Damishah Charles already accomplished that goal earlier this summer when she helped lead the Netherlands to a European Championship title in Italy. The Dutch National Team defeated Italy on their home turf, 7-1, to take home gold. 

Both Velazquez and Charles will return to the Falcons this fall for their final season with Daytona State.

FALCON ELITE SOFTBALL CAMP

Middle and high school prospects are on campus at DSC this week for the Elite Falcon All-Skills Academy. The weeklong summer camp helps players develop their skills and build new habits with coaching help from the Falcon softball team, led by Head Coach Sabrina Manhart.