RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech catcher Marilyn Rizzato was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American on Thursday, earning a spot on the third team.
She becomes the 17^th student-athlete in school history to earn the prestigious honor.

Rizzato was the lone Conference USA honoree and one of only two from the state of Louisiana, joining LSU pitcher Shelby Wickersham. She was one of only three catchers in the country to be named CoSIDA Academic All-American.

The Forney, Texas, native graduated in May with a 3.76 grade point average, earning her degree in biology. She is a four-time Conference USA Commissioner's honor roll recipient and a four-time C-USA Academic Medalist.

On the playing field, Rizzato earned all-conference honors three years – C-USA did not award all-league honors in 2020 due to the virus-shortened season – one of only five players in program history to earn all-conference honors in at least three seasons.

Rizzato is the sixth Lady Techster softball player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, joining Faith Holman (1986), Stacey Johnson (1986), Paige England (1998, 1999), Erica St. Romain (1999) and Erin Kipp (2013). This marks the fifth time in the last six years that a LA Tech student-athlete was named CoSIDA Academic All-American.
 

LA Tech CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

Year	Name	Sport	Team
1979	John Ward	Football	2
1982	Kim Mulkey (HOF, 2003)	Women's Basketball	3
1982	Angela Turner	Women's Basketball	3
1983	Kim Mulkey (HOF, 2003)	Women's Basketball	1
1983	Jennifer White	Women's Basketball	2
1984	Kim Mulkey (HOF, 2003)	Women's Basketball	1
1986	Faith Holman	Softball	2
1986	Stacey Johnson	Softball	2
1997	Kim Smitherman	Tennis	3
1998	Paige England	Softball	2
1999	Paige England	Softball	1
1999	Erica St. Romain	Softball	2
2009	Kinsey Dinnel	Men's Cross Country	2
2010	Clint Ewing	Baseball	3
2012	Ray Holley	Football	2
2013	Erin Kipp	Softball	2
2015	Kathryn Sloan	Soccer	3
2016	Kathryn Sloan	Soccer	1
2017	Jacie McClure	Volleyball	2
2019	Taylor Stahly	Women's Basketball	3
2020	Marilyn Rizzato	Softball	3