Owls' Delaney Parker Named Academic All-American !

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University senior women's soccer forward Delaney Parker (Orange, Mass./Mahar)  has added another monumental honor to her mantle, as she was named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America team today.

Parker was named as a second-team Academic All-American, and becomes the third Owls women's soccer player since 2014 to be selected to the prestigious squad.

"It's amazing," said Parker of her selection to the elite squad.   "Going in to college I never would have expected it, but it shows how hard work pays off."

"It's great to see her recognized for her hard work on the field, and in the classroom.  She's probably the hardest working player of any who have played for me, and she's always been driven to get better," said Westfield State women's soccer coach Todd Ditmar, who coached Parker throughout her career with the Owls.

Just 34 players nationwide were chosen from 420 schools that sponsor women's soccer at the NCAA Division III level – a pool of more than 10,000 athletes.

She was recently named to the United Soccer Coaches All Region team  for 2024, as well as the 2024 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive player of the year – her third time being chosen as the league's premier player.    She was honored a first-year student-athlete in 2021, and in consecutive seasons as a junior and senior. A four-time MASCAC All-Conference First Team selection, Parker led the conference with 21 goals and 48 points. The 21 goals scored were tied for 11^th in all of Division III. She finishes her Owls career with remarkable career statistics as Parker shattered the career goals and points marks, totaling 87 career goals and 208 points. She was the first Westfield State soccer athlete, male or female, to top the 200-career points mark, punctuating a sensational collegiate career, and passed former teammate Jenn Rennich to take over the career points lead in Parker's junior season in 2023.

Parker led the nation in goals with 31 as a first-year student in 2021.

Asked to put her scoring totals into perspective, Ditmar said "I wish I could!   Just the number of goals over four years is staggering.  From the first day she stepped on the field I knew she was a special player, and she's driven and determined to do well every time she is on the field, and was relentless in wanting to score goals."

A sports medicine major, Parker carries a 3.96 grade-point average and is working on applications to attend graduate school in physical therapy.

Asked to identify a favorite professor, Parker said "it's hard to tip your cap to just any one professor in movement science.  Everyone in the major is so helpful, it's almost like a big family.  They will all help you, sit down with you if you need some extra help," noting Dr. Paul Cacolice and Dr. Paul Higgins among that group.

While a standout on the soccer pitch, Parker has kept busy the last two years as a sprinter and jumper on the Owls women's track and field team as well.

Sarah Sypek was honored in 2014, and Jenn Rennich in 2021 and 2022, when she was named the Division III Women's Soccer Academic All American of the Year.

"It's terrific to see that we have had the opportunity to have so many players honored from Westfield State," said Owls head coach Todd Ditmar, who coached all three players.  "When you look at the list of  Academic All-Americans you see players from a number of schools with incredible academic and athletic reputations, and it's great to know that Westfield State University can produce the type of student-athletes who can compete at that level both in the classroom and on the field."

Parker will be presented with the award at a campus event during the spring semester.

This is the second straight semester that the Westfield State Athletics program has landed a player on a CSC All-Academic Team.   Baseball pitcher Ryan LaPierre, a marketing major, was selected in the spring.   Westfield State has placed 11 student-athletes on the CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-America teams since 1982.

Established in 1952 and selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), Academic All-America is the longest running and premier award for athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges and Canadian institutions.  Academic All-American is a title reserved for college student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their chosen sport and in the classroom.   "Academic All-America" is a federally registered trademark of CSC.

Currently, CSC sponsors Academic All-America® programs for men's soccer, women's soccer, football, volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, baseball, softball and men's and women's track and field/cross country. All other championship sports are eligible through the At-Large program.