CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Lafayette senior Brooke Wensel was named the 2019 Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and headlined the 12-member Academic All-Patriot League team when the League office announced softball academic accolades on Wednesday.
Wensel, a three-time academic all-League selection, highlights a group of six student-athletes to make the academic squad in multiple seasons. Bucknell junior Raeanne Geffert, Colgate junior Virginia Irby, Holy Cross seniors Jackie Brewster and Taylor Wahler, Lafayette senior Maddie Wensel and Lehigh junior Parker Boyd are all two-time academic team honorees.
Bucknell placed four student-athletes on the academic all-League team, as six of the seven League programs were represented. Colgate, Holy Cross and Lafayette all had two each, while Boston University and Lehigh rounded out the group with one selection apiece. Eight of the 12 members on the academic team will be competing in this week's Patriot League Softball Championship, which will begin on Thursday, May 9 at Boston University’s Softball Field in Boston, Mass.
The Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Academic All-Patriot League Team honors student-athletes who excel both on and off the field. The awards are nominated and voted on by the Patriot League softball sports information directors.
2019 Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Brooke Wensel, Lafayette, Sr., Bechtelsville, Pa./Berks
* In the classroom, Wensel boasts a 3.71 grade-point average, majoring in psychology with a minor in art.
* The senior has been named to the softball Academic All-League Team for three-straight years (’17, ’18, ’19), while being a Patriot League Honor Roll selection every semester.
* Upon graduation, Wensel plans to work with FBI agents as an operational support technician for two years before becoming a special agent.
* Wensel is ranked fifth at Lafayette in career at-bats (542), sixth in career home runs (10) and doubles (29), and seventh in stolen bases (25).
* Wensel ended the 2019 season turning 16 double plays at shortstop to lead the Patriot League.
* The senior also led the team in hits (43), runs scored (21) and triples (2), with a .283 batting average this season.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen or students in their first academic year at their school are not eligible for the honor.
The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each individual sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for this honor.
2019 Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete: Brooke Wensel, Lafayette, Sr.
Academic All-League
Alex Heinen, Boston University, Sr.
Jess Hom, Bucknell, So.
Raeanne Geffert, Bucknell, Jr.
Halie Mariano, Bucknell, Jr.
Anna Gimmestad, Bucknell, Sr.
Virginia Irby, Colgate, Jr.
Jordan Miller, Colgate, Jr.
Jackie Brewster, Holy Cross, Sr.
Taylor Wahler, Holy Cross, Sr.
Maddie Wensel, Lafayette, Sr.
Brooke Wensel, Lafayette, Sr.
Parker Boyd, Lehigh, Jr.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.