University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Trio Earns 2011 All-ACC Academic Accolades
June 16, 2011 | Softball
June 16, 2011
Greensboro, N.C. - The 2011 All-ACC Academic softball team was announced Wednesday by Commissioner John D. Swofford, including three North Carolina selections. Upperclassmen Brittany McKinney and Kelli Wheeler are joined by freshman Sara Buchholz to comprise the Tar Heel contingent.
McKinney is one of only three student athletes to collect All-ACC Academic honors for the third time in her career. The catcher from Clemmons, N.C, appeared in 54 games and made 53 starts as a designated hitter and catcher during her senior campaign. She owns one of the highest-career fielding percentages in UNC history with a .993 clip and her 20 home runs rank in the top-ten of Carolina history. McKinney recently inked a contract with the National Pro Fast Pitch League and will catch for the NPF Diamonds in her rookie season.
This marks Wheeler's second All-Academic selection. The Marietta, Ga. Native was also named to the 2011 All-ACC Second Team and All-ACC Tournament Team. The junior outfielder amassed a team-best .369 batting average, .631 slugging percentage and .460 on-base percentage. Her career .613 slugging percentage is the highest amongst any Tar Heel in three years of play and her 26 home runs are eight shy of the school record of 34.
Buchholz, the youngest Tar Heel selection, earns her first All-ACC Academic honor. The freshman pitcher from Miami, Fla., started 16 games in the circle for the Tar Heels en route to a 7-5 record overall and posted a 4-0 record with a 2.62 ERA in five league starts.
To be eligible for All-ACC Academic Team consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his or her academic career.
