Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

Westfield State junior Alicia Gardner (Athol) and junior Rachel Dionne (Feeding Hills/Agawam HS) have been selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I teams.

Gardner was a first-team selection on the Academic All-District I softball squad and is now one of eight finalists for Academic All-America honors. Dionne, a member of the Westfield cross country and lacrosse teams, was a District I at-large second-team selection.

Gardner and Dionne were chosen for the prestigious scholar-athlete honor by members of the college sports information directors of America (CoSIDA). District I includes Division II and III colleges in New England, New York and northeast Canada.

On the playing field, Gardner was chosen the MASCAC softball player of the year and a first-team All-New England selection at third base. She led the Owls and ranked fourth in the MASCAC in hitting with a .425 average. She led the conference with five triples and ranked second in stolen bases (17) and on base percentage (.496). Defensively, Gardner only committed three errors from her hot corner spot at third base.

In the classroom, Gardner owns a 3.96 grade point average and is a business/marketing major. Furthermore, she is a member of the Westfield field hockey team and led the Owls in scoring.

Dionne ranked third in the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) in scoring (51 goals, 29 assists, 80 points). Team-wise, the hustling defender was first in goals scored and caused turnovers (24) and second in ground balls (42).

Dionne was also selected the NEWLA scholar-athlete of the year with a 3.99 cumulative grade point average. She is a mathematics major.

Thus far this academic year Westfield has had three student-athletes earn Academic All-District I honors. Senior Stephanie Bartkus was a second-team selection on the college division District I volleyball squad.