HUNTSVILLE, TX -- Tori Benavidez, Sarah Allison, Allysa Coggins and Tomi Garrison of Sam Houston State have been named to the 2012 Academic All-Southland Conference honor squad.
Benavidez is a first team selection on the 2012 academic honor squad.
The junior from Midlothian owns a 3.46 overall grade point average as a business administration major at Sam Houston. A member of the SHSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a Dean’s List student, she is a kinesiology minor.
Benavidez was a first team All-Southland Conference outfielder, starting in center field for all of Sam Houston’s 50 games this season. She ranked eighth in the Southland in total hits (50) and total bases (75) and fifth in steals (5). Boasting a .329 season batting average, she led the Bearkats with 16 multiple hit games.
The other three Bearkats on the 2012 Academic All-Southland softball team were second team selections.
Allison, a third team All-Southland Conference shortstop this spring, holds a 3.56 grade point average as a kinesiology major and management minor. The sophomore from College Station A&M Consolidated started 45 of SHSU’s 50 games this spring. She ranked sixth in the Southland in home runs (7) and produced .452 slugging average … starter on 2012 Bearkat team that bounced back from 1-13 start to win 24 of their next 28 games to finish as Southland Conference runner-up. A Dean’s List student, she also is a member SHSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Garrison earned honorable mention All-Southland pitche and also was selected to Southland All-Tournament team. She produced a 3.40 overall grade point average as a psychology major and health minor. The senior from Garland ranked first in Southland in saves (3), seventh in wins (12), eighth in innings pitched (148) and complete games (15) and 10th in strike outs (91). She was a President’s List student with a perfect 4.00 grade point average during 2012 spring semester.
Coggins has produced a 3.72 overall grade point average as a business administration major and marketing minor. The sophomore from Sealy started all 50 games at second base and was the fourth-leading hitter on 2012 Bearkats (.268). She is an outstanding fielder with .984 fielding mean (only nine errors in 254 chances). She was a President’s List student with perfect 4.00 grade point average during the 2012 spring semester.
The four Academic All-Southland selections all were starters on the 2012 Bearkat team that bounced back from 1-13 start to win 24 of their next 28 games to finish as Southland Conference runner-up. Sam Houston State also reached the finals of the Southland Conference post-season tournament.
The all-academic teams are voted on by the head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance administrators from each Southland university. Student-athletes must possess a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution and participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competition to qualify for the all-academic squad.
2012 Academic All-Southland Conference Softball Team
First Team
Name University Class GPA Major/Minor
Molly Fichtner UTSA So. 3.93 Kinesiology
Nicole Beals Central Arkansas Sr. 3.68 History
Melissa Bryant Central Arkansas Jr. 3.71 Nursing
Alanna DiVittorio McNeese State So. 3.91 Civil Engineering
Tori Benavidez Sam Houston St Jr. 3.46 Business Administration
Elizabeth Arana Stephen F. Austin So. 4.00 Kinesiology
Chandler Hall Texas State Sr. 3.14 Fashion Merchandising
Ashley Ray Nicholls State Sr. 3.36 General Studies
Anne Marie Taylor Texas State Jr. 3.26 Interdisciplinary Studies
Brooke Baker Texas State Jr. 3.53 Interdisciplinary Studies
Hannah Schwarz A&M-Corp. Christi Sr. 3.99 Interdisciplinary Studies
Courtney Zink UT Arlington Sr. 4.00 Kinesiology
Second Team
Name University Class GPA Major/Minor
Anna Hernandez Texas State Jr. 3.36 Exercise & Sports Science
Tara McKenney Northwestern State So. 3.36 Communications
Katie McGregor Central Arkansas Sr. 3.85 Management
Megan McCollum Southeastern La So. 3.55 Kinesiology
Kelee Grimes Northwestern St Sr. 3.82 Business Administration
Katie Roux McNeese State So. 4.00 Health and Human Performance
Sarah Allison Sam Houston St So. 3.56 Kinesiology
Melanie Bryant Central Arkansas Jr. 3.52 Nursing
Greta Cecchetti A&M-Corp. Christi Jr. 3.18 Psychology
Marissa Koetting McNeese State Jr. 3.53 Biology
Allysa Coggins Sam Houston St So. 3.72 Business Administration
Tomi Garrison Sam Houston St Sr. 3.40 Psychology
