DENVER, Colo. - Jocelynn De La Cruz, Lily Garcia, Madison Kahwaty, Mekenzie Madokoro and Olivia Viggiano of Seattle University softball have been named on the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.
The Redhawks wrapped up another successful season at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament, making a WAC Tournament Championship appearance and claiming their fifth straight 30+ win season.
De La Cruz was one of the Redhawks best hitters all season long, starting all 56 games with a batting average of .364 and an on base percentage of .407. The graduate student set the single-season RBI record this season with 59 and ranked 60th in the NCAA in overall hits with 64. The native of Menifee, California, was fantastic as the team's cleanup hitter, logging a team-leading 12 home runs, which tied for the fourth most all-time in a single season. De La Cruz graduates from Seattle U in the spring with a certificate in entrepreneurship & innovation.
Garcia is not unfamiliar with academic honors, collecting her fourth academic award after earning WAC All-Academic the past three years. The second baseman was a vital part of the Seattle U infield, earning WAC All-Defensive team honors in 54 starts with a fielding percentage of .958 and 122 defensive assist. The Criminal Justice major enjoyed a fantastic 2023 WAC Tournament, claiming All-Tournament honors after going five-for-13 with one double, one triple and two RBIs as well as posting a fielding percentage of .962 with 14 assists. Garcia made numerous highlight reel plays on defense that provided much needed momentum throughout the tournament.
Kahwaty was a key leader at the plate and in the field, starting all 56 games at shortstop and leading the team in doubles with 16. Another member of the 2023 WAC All-Defensive team, Kahwaty led the conference in overall assists with 183 and helped create 17 double plays. This marks the senior's second academic award in her time at Seattle U, making the 2022 WAC All-Academic team last season. The native of Livermore, California, graduates in the spring with a degree in Biology.
Madokoro claims her third career academic award, making the WAC All-Academic team in 2020 and 2021. The native of Cerritos, California, set career-highs in games played (50), games started (38), at bats (107), runs scored (23) and hits (32). The graduate student was apart of five 30+ win teams as well as the 2019 WAC regular season and tournament champion and 2021 WAC tournament champion. The graduate student graduated with a degree in Psychology before getting a master's degree in couples and family therapy.
Viggiano concludes a historic career at Seattle U with her fifth career academic award. The graduate student was once again a stellar leadoff hitter for SU, batting an average of .324 with 66 overall hits which ranked 43rd in the NCAA. The center fielder finishes her career as the Redhawks all-time leader in games started/played, hits, triples, at bats and runs scored. The native of Mission Viejo, California, graduated with a degree in Marketing and is currently pursing an MBA in Sports & Entertainment Management.
The 2023 Academic All-District Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
All Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot and will be announced on June 6. Seattle U was one of six WAC schools to have a student-athlete named to the list and one of four to earn the maximum (five) eligible awards.
Stay connected with Seattle U softball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google
The Redhawks wrapped up another successful season at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament, making a WAC Tournament Championship appearance and claiming their fifth straight 30+ win season.
De La Cruz was one of the Redhawks best hitters all season long, starting all 56 games with a batting average of .364 and an on base percentage of .407. The graduate student set the single-season RBI record this season with 59 and ranked 60th in the NCAA in overall hits with 64. The native of Menifee, California, was fantastic as the team's cleanup hitter, logging a team-leading 12 home runs, which tied for the fourth most all-time in a single season. De La Cruz graduates from Seattle U in the spring with a certificate in entrepreneurship & innovation.
Garcia is not unfamiliar with academic honors, collecting her fourth academic award after earning WAC All-Academic the past three years. The second baseman was a vital part of the Seattle U infield, earning WAC All-Defensive team honors in 54 starts with a fielding percentage of .958 and 122 defensive assist. The Criminal Justice major enjoyed a fantastic 2023 WAC Tournament, claiming All-Tournament honors after going five-for-13 with one double, one triple and two RBIs as well as posting a fielding percentage of .962 with 14 assists. Garcia made numerous highlight reel plays on defense that provided much needed momentum throughout the tournament.
Kahwaty was a key leader at the plate and in the field, starting all 56 games at shortstop and leading the team in doubles with 16. Another member of the 2023 WAC All-Defensive team, Kahwaty led the conference in overall assists with 183 and helped create 17 double plays. This marks the senior's second academic award in her time at Seattle U, making the 2022 WAC All-Academic team last season. The native of Livermore, California, graduates in the spring with a degree in Biology.
Madokoro claims her third career academic award, making the WAC All-Academic team in 2020 and 2021. The native of Cerritos, California, set career-highs in games played (50), games started (38), at bats (107), runs scored (23) and hits (32). The graduate student was apart of five 30+ win teams as well as the 2019 WAC regular season and tournament champion and 2021 WAC tournament champion. The graduate student graduated with a degree in Psychology before getting a master's degree in couples and family therapy.
Viggiano concludes a historic career at Seattle U with her fifth career academic award. The graduate student was once again a stellar leadoff hitter for SU, batting an average of .324 with 66 overall hits which ranked 43rd in the NCAA. The center fielder finishes her career as the Redhawks all-time leader in games started/played, hits, triples, at bats and runs scored. The native of Mission Viejo, California, graduated with a degree in Marketing and is currently pursing an MBA in Sports & Entertainment Management.
The 2023 Academic All-District Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
All Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot and will be announced on June 6. Seattle U was one of six WAC schools to have a student-athlete named to the list and one of four to earn the maximum (five) eligible awards.
Stay connected with Seattle U softball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google