On the strength of another impressive performance in the classroom, the Ventura College women's basketball team has earned the No. 7 ranking in the 2016-17 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Academic Honor Roll for junior and community colleges. The Pirates posted a team Grade Point Average of 3.325 for the academic year, placing the team on the national list for the 13th time in the past 14 years.
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III; NAIA and junior/community college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2016-17 season is the 22nd in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
"The WBCA family is committed to the student-athlete experience and celebrates these teams that have demonstrated excellence in the classroom," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "This year's WBCA Academic Top 25 is a powerful list of teams and their head coaches who have winning cultures that prepare their student-athletes for success in life."
Ventura College was the only school from California at any level of competition honored by the WBCA this year.
The No. 7-ranking this year is the Pirates' 10th Top-10 ranking. They were No. 14 in 2015-16 after earning a No. 7 ranking in 2014-15. Ventura was ranked No. 6 on the national list in 2012-13 and came in at No. 9 in 2011-12. VC was No. 12 nationally in 2010-11 while earning Nos. 7 and 2 in 2009-10 and 2008-09, respectively. VC placed No. 6 in 2007-08 and was also ranked No. 7 in 2006-07, No. 16 in 2005-06, No. 8 in 2004-05, and No. 10 in 2003-04.
For the 2016-17 academic year, 10 of the 12 players on the team earned at least a 3.0 GPA, led by Avery Brunk and Katie Campbell. Mary Shirley, Celeste Salazar and Paige Larson also earned above a 3.5 GPA, qualifying them for Academic All-State Honors.
The complete 2016-17 WBCA Academic Top 25 for junior/community colleges is as follows:
Rank |
Institution |
Head Coach |
GPA |
1 |
Des Moines Area Community College |
Steve Krafcisin |
3.539 |
2 |
Snow College |
Mike Russell |
3.517 |
3 |
Northwest College |
Janis Beal |
3.510 |
4 |
Dawson Community College |
Romeo Lagmay |
3.402 |
5 |
Umpqua Community College |
Dave Stricklin |
3.335 |
6 |
Moberly Area Community College |
Chad Killinger |
3.329 |
7 |
Ventura College |
3.325 |
|
8 |
Illinois Central College |
Karrie Redeker |
3.321 |
9 |
McHenry County College |
Karen Wiley |
3.303 |
10 |
Minnesota West Community College |
Rosalie Hayenga |
3.261 |
11 |
Gulf Coast State College |
Roonie Scovel |
3.238 |
12 |
Northwest Mississippi Community College |
Don Edwards |
3.121 |
13 |
Indian Rver State College |
Diana Couch |
3.117 |
14 |
Northeast Mississippi Community College |
Brenda Mayes |
3.096 |
15 |
Frank Phillips College |
Eric Rodewald |
3.081 |
16 |
Tallahassee Community College |
Franqua Bedell |
3.070 |
17 |
Ellsworth Community College |
Ed Geitz |
3.043 |