LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University softball student-athletes Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual), Gianna Epps (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown), Kristyn Gardner (Perrysville, MD/Perrysville), Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) and Chelsea Weatherford (Wixom, MI/White Lake Lakeland) have been honored with College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District, the organization today announced. All honorees possess a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher and are key starters or contributors to their respective teams. 

The 2023 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced June 6.