Aug. 18, 2008
The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced the Division I academic squads and individual honor roll recipients. The IWLCA recognized Vanderbilt among the top 50 academic squads in the nation, in addition to honoring seniors Ashley Paschall, Michele Slotke and Brooke Shinaberry with honor roll distinctions.
Teams qualify as an academic squad by compiling a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The 25 Commodore players cumulated an impressive 3.192 team GPA. Iona College led the country with a 3.455. Vanderbilt registered its fourth straight honor squad distinction, with five over six seasons.
Athletes must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 with at least junior year status for Academic Honor Roll eligibility, which is lacrosse’s academic All-American. Paschall, also named to the honor roll in 2007, and Slotke recently graduated with a degree in human and organizational development, while Shinaberry received a master’s in international education policy and management. The IWLCA named Jessica Bill, Drexel University, the Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
In total, the IWLCA recognized 117 teams over the Division I, II and III spectrum, and honored over 300 athletes.
These awards add to an already successful 2008 season for the Commodores, in which they finished 13-6 and runner-up to eventual national champion Northwestern in the American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) tournament. Seniors Sasha Cielak and Margie Curran also earned national All-America honors from the IWLCA and US Lacrosse, while junior Cara Giordano received West/Midwest Region All-America recognition; and Shinaberry posted a second-team West/Midwest Region All-America selection. The ALC named head coach Cathy Swezey Coach of the Year.
