July 12, 2009
YORK, PA-The York College women’s basketball team received outstanding news on Thursday as the Spartans finished the 2008-09 academic year second in the nation academically according to the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Division III Honor Roll. The Spartans finished with a cumulative grade point average of 3.624 which left them just .001 points out of first place. Maryville College-St. Louis took home the top spot as they recorded a team GPA of 3.625, edging out the Spartans for the top spot. York has now placed in the top two in four of the last six years and appeared in the top 25 in five of the last six seasons.
In 2003-04, the Spartans finished second to Buena Vista University from Storm Lake, Iowa. In 2004-05, the green and white were the top academic team in the nation, recording a GPA of 3.725, .010 points higher than second-place finisher Messiah College. York finished tied for second in 2005-06 before being eighth last season.
The Spartans had all 13 players record at least a 3.30 GPA during the academic year. York was led by senior forward Amy Fry (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring) as the recreation major finished the year with a 3.94 GPA including a perfect 4.0 during the 2008 fall semester. Freshman Mandy Parshall (Dover, Pa./Homeschooled) posted a 3.82 GPA while seniors Amanda Andrews (Fallston, Md./Fallston) and Donna Figenshu (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) each accumulated a yearly GPA of 3.80. Andrews earned her grades despite taking a team-high 38 credits during the year. Figenshu had one of the Spartans’ three 4.0 semesters as she reached the milestone in the fall semester. Senior Chanel Perez (Biglerville, Pa./Gettysburg) was another one of the Spartans’ top performers as the nursing major finished with a GPA of 3.75 including a perfect 4.0 in the spring semester.
In addition to the Spartan success in the classroom, the team finished with a school record 27 wins, an undefeated regular season CAC championship, and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16.
Spartan head coach Betsy Witman is extremely proud of the players in her program.
“Finishing 2nd in the Nation in the WBCA Academic Top 25 is 'icing on the cake' to our banner season,” states Witman. “These young women have proven once again that they can achieve at the highest level in the classroom and on the basketball court. I could not be more proud of what this team has accomplished this year!”
Spartan Assistant Dean for Athletics and Recreation Sean Sullivan believes this is just another example of York College student-athletes excelling.
“This recognition truly cements the 2008-2009 women's basketball season as one of the school's finest from top to bottom in any sport,” comments Sullivan. “Not only did the team achieve beyond anyone's expectations on the court, but they also generated tremendous Spartan spirit throughout the campus and community. Now, it is additionally apparent that they continue to set the academic bar for our York College varsity programs, and to a certain degree, for all of Division III women's basketball. We are tremendously proud of this stellar group of women and appreciative of the mentoring efforts of Coach Witman and the entire coaching staff. It was indeed a magical year.”
York was one of four Pennsylvania schools to be ranked and one of two Capital Athletic Conference teams, along with Marymount University, in the top 25.
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