WNCC baseball honored for academics

Proving that its performance in the classroom was just as important as how it performed on the field, the Western Nevada Community College baseball team was named one of the National Junior College Athletic Association's spring academic teams of the year.

The Wildcats were ranked No. 19 in the nation with a 3.01 cumulative grade point average.

"We are delighted with this team achievement," WNCC Interim Dean of Student Services John Kinkella said. "We believe this is a very significant honor for a first-year program."

Pitcher Dan Grubbs was the academic most valuable player of the team. He maintained a 3.66 grade point average while playing baseball and pursuing an Associate of Science degree at WNCC. Grubbs' future plans include getting his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. "Engineering majors are locked into some of the most challenging courses at WNCC in preparation for university transfer," Kinkella added. "Given this reality, we are very proud of Dan's accomplishments in the classroom, as well as on the field."

The inaugural season for WNCC was a big hit as the Wildcats finished with a 37-18 overall record, a Scenic West Athletic Conference Championship, and a top 20 ranking in the NJCAA's final poll.