Note: The following is a press release from Gardner-Webb regarding former North Stanly softball standout Weslyn Almond.

Junior outfielder Weslyn Almond has been named to the 2020 Big South Softball All-Academic Team.

Almond (Albemarle, N.C.) carries a 3.903 cumulative grade point average in exercise science, and was part of a 2020 All-Academic Team that posted a combined 3.75 GPA. Almond was part of a strong start for the Runnin’ Bulldogs in 2020, leading the Big South with a .488 batting average with a league-best 41 hits and .786 slugging percentage. She also led the circuit in total bases and ranked second in triples.

Almond’s bat helped Gardner-Webb to a 24-5 record, the best start in program history. After winning the Big South Conference opener at Campbell, the Bulldogs finished atop the league standings when the season was suspended in mid-March.

The Big South Softball All-Academic Team consists of one student-athlete from each institution that meets the criteria of having completed at least one academic year at the institution, maintains at least a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average and is of sophomore standing (academically and athletically).  The team and Scholar-Athlete of the Year award are selected by the Big South Conference Sports Information Directors.  This year’s team combined for a 3.75 GPA.

2020 Big South Softball All-Academic Team

Hunter Mundy, Sr., INF, Radford (Scholar-Athlete of the Year)
Kynadi Tipler, Sr., INF, Campbell
Madison Koger, Jr., 2B, Charleston Southern
Weslyn Almond, Jr., CF, Gardner-Webb
Brianna Anderson, Sr., OF, Hampton
Alexis Wayland, Soph., C/3B, Longwood
Courtney White, Sr., OF, Presbyterian
Erin Hill, Sr., P, USC Upstate
Ansley Gilreath, Sr., 1B, Winthrop