NFHCA proudly announces 2023 Division III National Academic Squad

Photo credit: Sean Elliot

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — A distinguished achievement, the NFHCA proudly recognizes the outstanding academic prowess of more than 1800 student-athletes hailing from more than 150 institutions who have each earned an honored place on the 2023 Division III National Academic Squad.

The NFHCA National Academic Squad program, sponsored by OPA Winning Teams, celebrates the academic excellence of undergraduate collegiate student-athletes. This prestigious recognition is bestowed upon individuals who have attained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher through the fall semester of the current academic year, and who have been nominated by their dedicated NFHCA member coaches.

Connecticut College distinguished itself by securing the highest number of National Academic Squad selections this year, boasting an impressive tally of 26 student-athletes on the prestigious list.

Following closely, Middlebury College claimed the second-highest spot with 24 student-athletes honored, while Johns Hopkins University, Juniata College, and Shenandoah University collectively secured the third-highest position, each with 22 student-athletes earning this prestigious distinction.

Noteworthy is the inclusion of 291 student-athletes on the list for the fourth time, marking them as perennial honorees who have consistently demonstrated outstanding academic achievements throughout their undergraduate journey.

Below, the 2023 honorees are presented alphabetically by school and then by last name. The table is designed to be both searchable and filterable for easy reference.

Three prestigious Division III academic awards are yet to be unveiled  — the NFHCA Scholars of Distinction will be announced on February 19, the NFHCA National Academic Team awards on February 21, and concluding with the announcement of the National Scholar-Athlete on February 26.

Individualized digital certificates will be generated following the February 29 deadline for any spelling corrections. Email any spelling spelling or name corrections to awards@nfhca.org no later than February 29. Any corrections made after that cannot be modified.

OPA Winning Teams is the official sponsor of the NFHCA National Academic Squad. For over 20 years, Optimal Performance Associates has been dedicated to providing innovative and exciting team building workshops, seminars, and retreats that meet specific objectives and goals. Their mission is to provide your organization with a dynamic learning experience that will promote the enhancement of relationships and the building of tangible skills that will produce positive results.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.