BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Boston University senior Caitlin Coker was named the Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year when the League office announced honors on Wednesday. Coker was one of the student-athletes selected to the 12-member Academic All-League team.
 
Six of the seven institutions – Army West Point, Boston U, Bucknell, Colgate, Lafayette, and Lehigh - were represented on the academic team. BU led the way with four players on the team, followed by Lehigh with three. Colgate earned two spots, while Army, Bucknell and Lafayette placed one player each.

Seven student-athletes received academic honors for the second-straight year: BU graduate student Nicole Amodio, Coker, and graduate student Emily Gant, Colgate senior Steph Jacoby, Lafayette senior Grace Harvey, and Lehigh graduate student Carley Barjaktarovich and senior Emily Cimino.

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 winner for each sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards given out over the summer.

The selection process was conducted by the League’s softball sports information directors, who could not vote for their student-athletes.

2023 Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Caitlin Coker, Boston University, Sr., 3B, Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown STEM Academy
* The three-time academic all-League team member, Coker owns a 3.87 GPA as a biology major at Boston University.
* She is the recipient of BU’s Scarlet Key award – one of the highest academic honors that acknowledge the curricular and extracurricular achievements of the students.
* The Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year received the John B. Simpson Award from BU Athletics in May for leadership and enthusiasm.
* She is a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BU’s SAAC and the Student-Athletes of Color organization.
* Coker, a three-time Patriot League Player of the Week honoree this season, finished the regular season with 29 putouts and 93 assists. The senior recorded a .996 fielding percentage and four double plays.

2023 Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Caitlin Coker, Boston University, Sr.
 
2023 Patriot League Softball Academic All-League Team
Alicyn Grete, Army West Point, Sr.
Nicole Amodio, Boston University, Gr._­­­
Caitlin Coker, Boston University, Sr.
Emily Gant, Boston University, Gr.
Kayla Roncin, Boston University, Jr.
Zoie Smith, Bucknell, Jr.
Steph Jacoby, Colgate, Sr.
Bailey Misken, Colgate, Sr.
Grace Harvey, Lafayette, Sr.
Carley Barjaktarovich, Lehigh, Gr.
Josie Charles, Lehigh, Sr.
Emily Cimino, Lehigh, Sr.

ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth 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.