FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 23, 2009 Contact:
Ben Greenberg, SID (479) 968-0645
AMANDA GRAPPE NAMED WBCA NCAA DIVISION
II STATE FARM COACHES' FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA SELECTION
ATLANTA,
Georgia – Arkansas Tech’s
Amanda Grappe was named an NCAA Division II WBCA
State Farm All-America selection on Monday one day prior
to the beginning of the NCAA Division II Women’s Elite
Eight in San Antonio, Texas.
Grappe,
who was one of 41 finalists from the eight WBCA award
regions for All-America honors, becomes Tech’s
first-ever First-Team NCAA Division II-level All-America
selection since the school joined Division II in 1996.
In addition, she becomes just the seventh two-time
All-America selection in school history and first since
former Golden Sun Jennifer Richardson was named
an Honorable Mention selection in both 1996 and 1997. Grappe
was an Honorable Mention All-America selection last
season.
Grappe, who becomes Tech’s first First-Team All-American
since Stephanie Strack-Mathis and Dawn Grell
were named NAIA Kodak All-Americans in 1994, was one of
10 players named to this year’s Division II State Farm
Coaches’ All-America team. The team is selected by an
online vote of the selection committee, which is
comprised of one representative from each of the eight
geographical regions and a chairperson.
“Amanda Grappe had an outstanding season and an
outstanding career as a Golden Sun
and is truly deserving of this All-American honor,”
Golden Suns Head Coach Dave Wilbers said Monday
evening. ““She had an outstanding season for our
basketball team and had an outstanding career as a
Golden Sun. She is truly one of the all-time greats that
have played in this tradition-rich program.”
Grappe, a senior forward from Benton, Ark., earns her
Division II State Farm Coaches’ All-America honor after
being named the GSC West Division Player of the Year and
was also named a three-time All-GSC West Division
selection. She finished this past season averaging 19.0
points and 8.1 rebounds per game, along with shooting 54
percent from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line
and 78 percent at the free throw line. Grappe finished
her Tech career as the program’s 10th all-time leading
scorer (1,738 points) and the program’s fourth all-time
leading rebounder (791 boards). In addition, she
recorded 27 double-digit scoring games this
season and had a team-best nine double-doubles and was
named the GSC West Division Player of the Week three
times. In her career, she had 94 career double-digit
scoring efforts, 20 double-doubles and 29 games of
scoring 20 or more points, including five career 30-plus
point games.
Along with her Division II State Farm Coaches’
All-America honor, Grappe also has been
named a repeat First-Team Daktronics All-South Region
honoree.
Grappe is joined in the First-Team by West Texas A&M
senior guard Emily Brister, Emporia State senior forward
Ida Edwards, Indiana [PA] senior forward Tracey Jahzinga,
Alaska-Anchorage senior center Rebecca Kielpinski,
Franklin Pierce junior guard Johannah Leedham, Northern
Kentucky senior guard Jessie Slack, Columbus State
junior forward Phebe Smith, California [PA] junior guard
Brooque Williams and Hillsdale senior forward Katie
Cezat, who was named the Division II State Farm Coaches’
Player of the Year. Lenoir-Rhyne University Head Coach
Todd Starkey was named the WBCA Division II Coach of the
Year.
Listed below are the 10 First-Team NCAA Division II
State Farm Coaches’ All-America
Basketball Team.