News Summary
Five exceptional players from the Francis Marion University softball team have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. This recognition highlights their outstanding achievements in both academics and athletics. The honorees, including senior Emily Konz and junior standout Jenna Walling, are now eligible for the Academic All-America ballot. The FMU softball team also had a remarkable season, finishing with a 53-6 record and reaching the NCAA Division II Southeast Super Regional title game.
Florence, SC – Five members of the Francis Marion University (FMU) softball team have been selected for the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team for 2025. This prestigious recognition highlights the achievements of student-athletes who excel in both academics and sports, showcasing their talents on and off the field.
The selected players include Emily Konz, a senior outfielder; Tallulah Civoniceva, a junior first baseman; Anderson Thrower, a junior outfielder; Jenna Walling, a junior right-handed pitcher; and Madalyn White, a junior shortstop. Notably, Jenna Walling is a repeat winner from 2024.
These honorees will now advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot, with final recognitions expected in June. This step not only emphasizes their athletic skills but also their outstanding academic performance.
Emily Konz, hailing from Lantana, Florida, has an academic standing of 3.727 GPA and has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting. On the field, she earned second-team D2CCA All-America honors and was recognized on both the NFCA and D2CCA first-team All-Southeast Region teams. Her notable season statistics include a batting average of .430 with 9 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, and an impressive 34 RBIs, leading to the ranking of 7th nationally in stolen bases with a total of 44 and 12th in runs scored with 62.
Tallulah Civoniceva, from Scarborough, Queensland, Australia, maintains a GPA of 3.903 while majoring in criminal justice. Equally commendable, she has made consistent appearances on both the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic and Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll. During the season, Civoniceva batted .264, recording 30 runs, 5 doubles, 8 home runs, and 30 RBIs.
Anderson Thrower, a junior outfielder from Hanahan, South Carolina, boasts a 3.753 GPA with a focus on biology and healthcare administration. She has been recognized twice as an Academic All-Conference player and has made the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll in every semester attended. This season, she achieved a batting average of .407, scoring 35 runs with 3 doubles and 23 RBIs, accompanied by 6 stolen bases and a .456 on-base percentage.
Jenna Walling, who graduated summa cum laude with a perfect 4.0 GPA in biology, saw tremendous success this past season. She was awarded first-team NFCA All-Southeast Region honors and named the conference tournament MVP. Walling’s pitching highlights include a remarkable 20-3 record with a 1.88 ERA, achieving a school record with 4 saves, completing 14 games, and striking out a total of 133 batters in 156 innings pitched.
Madalyn White, from Currie, North Carolina, is another academically accomplished player with a 3.717 GPA while pursuing a double major in biology and healthcare administration. Her outstanding athletic performance earned her second-team D2CCA All-America recognition, and she also secured spots on the NFCA and D2CCA first-team All-Southeast Region teams. White batted an impressive .488—ranking as the second best in Division II—with 102 hits leading the nation, and 78 runs, placing her second nationally in that area.
The FMU softball team not only showcased individual brilliance but also achieved historical recognition as a team, finishing with an outstanding 53-6 record this season. They made their mark by reaching the NCAA Division II Southeast Super Regional title game and concluded the regular season ranked second nationally after clinching their third consecutive Conference Carolinas Tournament championship.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Francis Marion University Softball Players Recognized for Academic Excellence
Francis Marion Hosts Historic Super Regional Softball Event
Francis Marion University Baseball Players Earn National Honors
Francis Marion University Celebrates Arts and Cultural Diversity
Francis Marion University Receives Grant for Student Support
Francis Marion University Tennis Teams Compete in Sumter
Francis Marion University Basketball Stars Shine
Additional Resources
- WMBF News: Francis Marion Softball Super Regional
- SC Now: Francis Marion Softball Advances
- LR Bears: D2CCA All-Southeast Region Team
- FloSoftball: How to Watch NCAA Division II Softball
- BVM Sports: FMU Softball Ranked
- Wikipedia: Softball
- Google Search: Francis Marion University Softball
- Google Scholar: Francis Marion Softball 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Softball
- Google News: Francis Marion Softball 2025
