by Alan Babbitt

Eight Hope College women's lacrosse team student-athletes have been selected for the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association NCAA Division III Academic Honor Roll.

Seniors Caitlyn Cowell, Rachel Elder, Laurel Frederickson, Carly Pieri, Jane Ragains, Paige Rosenbrook, and Paige Wilmer join junior Sophie Ackerman as Flying Dutch honorees.

Hope also claimed the IWLCA's Academic Honor Squad distinction.

"It's exciting to have our student-athletes recognized for their achievements in the classroom," head coach Keagan Pontious said. "Our program strives for excellence academically and athletically. These women emulate that excellence." 

The IWLCA honored 918 student-athletes from 189 different institutions on the 2021 IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll. Student-athletes must be either a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater to be eligible for this honor. 

The IWLCA has named 319 schools across Division I, II, III, and NAIA as IWLCA Academic Honor Squads for the 2020-21 academic year. To qualify for this prestigious honor, the women's lacrosse team must have posted a 3.2 or higher team GPA for the academic year.

Ackermann, an attacker, is a business major from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids) HS).

Cowell, a defender, was a business major from Culver, Indiana (Culver Academies).

Elder, an attacker, was a business major from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids).

Frederickson, a goalie, was a public accounting and business major from Alto, Michigan (Lowell).

Pieri, a midfielder, was a special education major from Alto, Michigan (Caledonia).

Ragains, a midfielder, was a physical education major from Western Springs, Illinois (Lyons Township).

Rosenbrook, an attacker, was an engineering major from East Lansing, Michigan (Haslett).

Wilmer, a midfielder, was a nursing major from Columbus, Ohio (Upper Arlington).