FLORENCE, S.C. – Seven members of this past spring’s Francis Marion University softball team – senior catcher Jamie Wiggins, junior pitcher Jessica Johnson, freshman outfielder Lakyn Bendle, junior outfielder Jenna Sexton, and infielders Janine Allen, Tatjana Slawson, and Monica Wofford – were recently named to the 2006 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete Team. 

To be eligible for the team, players must have compiled a 3.5 grade point average (or higher) for the past (2005-06) academic year. Both Wiggins and Sexton earn the award for the second consecutive year.

The entire Patriot squad was recently named an Academic Scholar-Athlete Team by the NFCA.

Johnson, a native of Palm City, Fla., is majoring in elementary education. Wiggins, a native of Marion, graduated this past May with a B.S. degree in biology.

Sexton, a native of Marietta, Ga., is majoring in health physics.  Bendle from Amsterdam, Ohio, is majoring in psychology. Allen, a native of Lilburn, Ga., is a junior third baseman majoring in accounting (management information systems). Slawson played second base, hails from North Charleston, and is majoring in political science. Wofford, a native of Myrtle Beach, is a sophomore first baseman majoring in elementary education.

Francis Marion posted a 27-16 record this past spring, finished sixth in the Peach Belt Conference regular-season standings, and narrowly missed a bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the third consecutive year.