Longwood University Athletics

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood softball placed its entire starting infield on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete Team, which the NFCA announced Tuesday.
 
Highlighted by Big South Pitcher of the Year Sydney Backstrom, Longwood's seven selections also included pitcher Arleigh Wood, catcher Alexis Wayland, first baseman Sydney Jacobsen, second baseman Destiny Martinez, shortstop Kasey Carr and third baseman Mason Basdikis. Backstrom, Basdikis and Jacobsen were also All-Big South selections this past season, while Wayland appeared on the Big South All-Academic Team, Martinez was an All-Big South pick in 2018, and Carr was a five-year starter who played in 222 career games.
 
Every member of Longwood's veteran-laden group posted a grade point average of at least 3.50 during the 2020-21 academic year to earn a spot on the NFCA list, which this year featured more than 8,000 student-athletes from all NCAA Divisions, NAIA and high school programs around the country.
 
Additionally, Longwood transfer and Virginia native Sydney Guess, who joined the Lancers this fall from Coastal Carolina, was also named to the team.
 
Longwood's seven selections were the second most in the Big South Conference and continue a trend of academic excellence within the program. The team has achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 for nine consecutive semesters, including a program-record 3.39 GPA this past spring. Jacobsen was a President's List selection in both the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters, while Basdikis and Wayland also earned President's List recognition in 2020-21 and the remaining quartet appeared on the Longwood University Dean's List. Wood was also the recipient of Longwood's prestigious Jimmy M. Yarbrough Inspiration Award, which goes to one student-athlete each year who exhibits the service-focused spirit of the late Yarbrough.
 
Backstrom, Basdikis, Jacobsen and Wayland all return for the Lancers' 2022 season, which will be the program's second under head coach Dr. Megan Brown. Along with do-it-all sophomore center fielder Lauren Taylor, they make up a veteran core of six returning starters who helped leads the Lancers to a 14-8 Big South record and a third-place conference finish last season.
 
Currently in the midst of their fall preseason, the group will conclude their four-game exhibition schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 19, with a 6 p.m. home game against Liberty.
 
2020-21 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes
Sydney Backstrom (Sr., P)
Mason Basdikis (Jr., INF)
Kasey Carr (Gr., SS)
Sydney Jacobsen (Jr., 1B/C)
Destiny Martinez (Gr., 2B)
Alexis Wayland (Jr., 3B/C)
Arleigh Wood (Sr., P)
Sydney Guess (Jr., 1B/UT)*
*Guess played 2021 season at Coastal Carolina before transferring to Longwood

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