Dowagiac earns Division 2 Academic All-State for 18th straight year
Published 3:00 pm Friday, June 3, 2022
In front from left: Ella Parker, Calley Ruff, Rebecca Guernsey; second row: Riley Mott, Jenna Ward, Sierra Carpenter, Lyla Elrod, Rylee Hudson; third row: Coach Mike Behnke, Taylor Wimberley, Emma Allen, Sarah Allen, Caleigh Wimberley, Aubrey Busby. (Leader file photo)
In front from left: Lindsey Dalenberg, Sydney Klaer, Jersey Dawson, Lexi Schimpa, Caitlin Tighe, Julia Seifer; second row: Emma Denison, Samantha Baker, Abby Robbins, Hailey Heppner, Anna Jankoviak, Averie Markel, Abby Bossler, Lani Hardin. (Leader file photo)
In front from left: Laila Vance, Ashlynn Wilken, Annabelle Johnson, Kailyn Miller, Chloe Hargreaves, Carsyn Franz, Olivia Johnson; second row: Coach Dale Myer, Kayla Kiggins, Haylea Wilken, Amira Lee, Emerson Garrard, Mya Syson, Chevelle Jaynes, Coveney Davidson, Coach Rich Johnson. (Leader file photo)
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DOWAGIAC — For the 18th consecutive year, the Dowagiac varsity softball team has earned Division 2 Academic All-State from the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association.
But unlike previous years, the Chieftains had all 13 players with a grade point average of 3.00 or better. That is something that has never happened under veteran Dowagiac Coach Mike Behnke.
“We had the highest GPA I have ever had in 18 years with a 3.62,” Behnke said. “The requirement for the team is to have a team cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.”
The Chieftains also had three players earn individual Academic All-State — Taylor Wimberley (3.98), Emma Allen (3.97) and Calley Ruff (3.91). Wimberley is the salutatorian of the Class of 2022.
“The requirement for an individual is to have a cumulative GPA of 3.60 or higher,” Behnke said. “Cumulative GPA equals the girl’s GPA since they have been in high school, not just this year or just this semester.”
Also earning individual Division 2 Academic All-State was Niles’ Chloe Hargreaves with a GPA of 3.96.
Edwardsburg and Niles also earned team Academic All-State in Division 2. The Vikings had a GPA of 3.7.
Buchanan was team Academic All-State in Division 3, as well as having Christin Cooper earn individual Academic All-State.
In Division 4, Decatur had a trio of individual Academic All-State selections — Gwen Grosvenor, Mollie Latham and Lauren Ogrin — while Marcellus had a pair earn individual all-state — Emma Holmes and Abby Voss.
