Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

May 12, 2022 – Junior Grace Houghton continued to make history in a monumental season for the Loras College softball team on Thursday as she became the first softball student-athlete to earn CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honors for her academic and athletic achievements. The 2021-22 Academic All-District Softball Team, selected by nation's sports information directors, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.

The designated player for the Duhawks, Houghton is a mathematics major from Marengo, Ill., carrying a 3.93 GPA. She started 26 games and led the team with three home runs this season. Houghton added a .375 batting average on 27 hits and five doubles. Her efforts helped the Duhawks to their first National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 rankings and an overall record of 22-10, marking the most wins since 2017. Houghton is also a two-time American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) All-Academic honoree and a five-time Dean's List selection at Loras.

Houghton joins fellow conference student-athletes in infielder Lauren Brown from the University of Dubuque, catcher Maddie Luderman from Simpson College and outfielder Kaylie Springer on the District 8 Team. 

The All-District honorees will advance to the national ballot and have the chance to earn All-America honor. The 2021-22 Academic All-America team will be announced on June 7.