By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
CoSIDA named Fort Hays State Women’s Soccer juniors Cailey Perkins and Maja Persa to its Academic All-District Team on Thursday (June 3). Perkins is one of just three forwards from District 7 (MIAA, NSIC, and GAC Conferences) to receive the honor, while Persa is one of four defenders to receive the honor. Sports Information and Athletic Communication professionals within District 7 vote on the Academic All-District Team, which honors a combination of academic and athletic accomplishments of the individuals selected.
Both Perkins and Persa have maintained perfect 4.0 GPA throughout their collegiate careers at FHSU. Perkins, native of Manhattan, Kansas, is a Nursing major at FHSU, while Persa, native of Palos Hills, Illinois, is a Psychology major. Both are three-time recipients of the MIAA Academic Excellence Award for maintaining their perfect 4.0 GPAs. FHSU Women’s Soccer has been impressive in the classroom as a team with nine of the returners on the squad this past year carrying a GPA of at least 3.6. Perkins and Persa are two of four returners on the team this year carrying perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA.
Perkins and Persa have garnered postseason recognition for their play on the field at FHSU. Perkins is a two-time All-MIAA selection (2018 and 2019) and Persa was an All-MIAA selection in 2019. Perkins earned second-team honors as a freshman and sophomore, while Persa was an honorable mention pick as a sophomore. Perkins has put together an impressive offensive resume at FHSU so far with 36 career points on 14 goals and eight assists. She has five game-winning goals in her career and started all 37 official matches she has played in. Persa has been a steady force in Fort Hays State’s defensive back line for two years, mainly in the center back position. She has logged 2,260 minutes on the pitch while helping the team produce 16 shutouts in 2018 and 2019 combined.
Perkins is a two-time recipient of the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award for her two years of earning All-MIAA honors and holding a GPA of 3.5 or higher, while Persa has one MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award to her credit.
As All-District selections, Persa and Perkins will now be considered for Academic All-America honors to be voted on by Sports Information/Athletic Communication professionals nationwide in NCAA Division II.
Below is the 2021 CoSIDA Women’s Soccer Academic All-District Team in NCAA Division II for District 7.
NCAA DIVISION II – DISTRICT 7 (Great American, Mid-America, Northern Sun)
Pos., Name, School, Yr., GPA, Major
GK, Anna Mayer, Missouri Western State University, Jr., 3.80, Psychology
D, Caitlin Brown, Minnesota State University-Mankato, Jr., 3.98, Criminal Justice
D, Shannon McKnight, Augustana University, Sr., 3.95, Biology
D, Maja Persa, Fort Hays State University, Jr., 4.00, Psychology
D, Lauren Phillips, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Sr., 3.87, Business Administration
M, Jena Berkland, Concordia-St. Paul, Jr., 4.00, Exercise Science
M, Missy Greco, Winona State University, Sr., 3.85, Composite Engineering
M, Allie Williams, Minnesota State University, Mankato So., 3.96, Special Ed., Academic & Behavior Strat. / Math
F, Kassie Newsom, University of Central Missouri, Jr., 4.00, Criminal Justice
F, Cailey Perkins, Fort Hays State University, Jr., 4.00, Nursing
F, Jenny Vetter, Minnesota State University-Mankato, Jr., 4.00, Biology
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