SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Now that another exciting softball season has come to a close, the West Coast Conference has announced its Softball All-Academic Team for the 2023 season.
 
SMC had six players featured on the team, with senior Bry Waters leading the way with her inclusion to the First Team. Five of her Gaels teammates were included to the honorable mention list as well.
 
At the conclusion of each athletic season, the WCC selects an all-academic squad for each WCC-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, while also being a significant contributor to his team and in at least their second year at their school.
 
Waters was a pivotal piece to the Gaels success on the field this year, as the senior from Martinez, California featured in 39 games for SMC. She was a menace on the base path all season long, tallying seven steals which landed her third on the team. The right fielder excelled on the field and in the classroom, graduating from Saint Mary's with a 3.76 GPA as a Kinesiology: Sports & Recreation Management major.
 
Also included as honorable mentions were five other Gaels that made significant impacts throughout the season.
 
Sophomore third baseman Lindsay Cabral was a presence at the hot corner all season long, as she featured in all 49 games for the Gaels this season. Cabral finished the year with a 3.34 GPA as a Communications: Media Maker major.
 
Catcher Angelina Franco had another successful season behind the dish for the Gaels, as the junior from Arleta, California finished the year with a 3.30 GPA as a Biology major.
 
Junior infielder Marissa Montelongo was a consistent presence on the Gaels roster all season long, stealing bases and collecting multi-hit games that helped propel SMC to numerous victories down the stretch. Montelongo finished the year with a 3.30 GPA as an Allied Health Science major.
 
SMC's other Marissa, Marissa Nishihara, overcame her slow start to the season with a dominant conference play display as she batted .314 with numerous clutch hits down the stretch. The junior from Mililani, Hawaii finished the season with a 3.42 GPA as a Health Science major.
 
Last but not least is Kailey O'Connor, the hard throwing sophomore. The right-hander had another solid season in the circle, as lead the team with 16 starts and a 3.34 ERA. O'Connor finished her second year with SMC with a 3.38 GPA as a Health Science major.
 
ALL ACADEMIC TEAM
 
Emma Bickford, Santa Clara
Rian Dirmeyer, Pacific
Mikalyn Emanuelli, San Diego
Jessica Hubbard, LMU
Carly Lucchetti, Pacific
Sammy Needham, Santa Clara
Sydney Poole, LMU
Courtney Rose, San Diego
Vanessa Strong, Pacific
Chloe Temples, BYU
Ashley Trierweiler, Santa Clara
Bry Waters, Saint Mary's
 
HONORABLE MENTIONS
 
Lindsay Cabral, Angelina Franco, Marissa Montelongo, Marissa Nishihara, Kailey O'Connor