Four CAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Programs Garner Major Awards

6/26/2025 1:00:00 PM

Ben Kane

RICHMOND, Va. (June 26, 2025) – Four separate programs – Delaware, Elon, Monmouth, and North Carolina A&T – garnered a major award winner following the 2025 CAA Outdoor Track & Field season.

North Carolina A&T’s Spirit Morgan was named the Field Athlete of the Year, while Delaware’s Olamide Ayeni garnered Rookie of the Year honors. Monmouth’s All-American Yasmeen Tinsley earned Track Athlete of the Year and Elon’s Mark Elliston was named the Coach of the Year.

Morgan earned Second Team All-American honors from the USTFCCCA after finishing ninth nationally in the women’s high jump. The CAA Outdoor high jump title holder had the sixth-best jump coming out of the NCAA East Regional. Morgan’s 1.85m leap at the conference championship ranked 12th among Division I athletes this season.

Tinsley had a prolific season, leading to her holding 10 program records with the Hawks. The newly crowned Second Team All-American in the 400m hurdles placed 15th at the national semifinal with a time of 57.53, marking the fastest time by a Monmouth athlete at the NCAA Championships. Tinsley won both the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles at the CAA Championship.

Ayeni took home the CAA Discus Throw title with a 52.53m toss, while also coming in seventh in the shot put with a mark of 14.33m. The first year’s season continued at the USATF U20 Championships in late June, placing second in the discus throw after setting a new personal record of 52.93m.

Elliston led the Phoenix to its fourth CAA Women’s Outdoor Championship in the past five seasons, scoring 147 points in the conference meet. Under his guidance, Elon had four individual outdoor champions and saw two individuals qualify for the NCAA East Regional.

The following student-athletes earned All-CAA honors for placing top three in their respective event(s) at the 2025 CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

 

2025 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field All-CAA Honorees

100m: Maya Tucker, Towson (11.46); Savannah Blair, Northeastern (11.50); Makenna Urbanek, N.C.. (11.59)

200m: Cristal Cuervo, Towson (23.62); Savannah Blair, Northeastern (23.69); Maya Tucker, Towson (23.83)

400m: Cristal Cuervo, Towson (52.85); Emily Ervin, William & Mary (54.07); Nasiah Ferguson, UNCW (54.44)

800m: Jordan Mozie, Hampton (2:06.92); Shayla Cann, Elon (2:07.89); Kadence Dumas, Delaware (2:08.80)

1500m: Quinn Smith, Elon (4:23.42); Sarah Petitjean, Elon (4:23.69); Kyra Holland, William & Mary (4:23.96)

5000m: Mikayla Jones, Elon (16:52.74); Madison Synowiec, Elon (16:56.19); Mariana Martinez, Elon (17:04.79)

10,000m: Peninah Mutisya, Hampton (34:36.25); Mikayla Jones, Elon (34:37.19); Madison Synowiec, Elon (34:43.47)

100m Hurdles: Lucheyona Weaver, N.C. A&T (13.26); Yasmeen Tinsley, Monmouth (13.49); Zamia Stelly, N.C. A&T (13.96)

400m Hurdles: Yasmeen Tinsley, Monmouth (57.34); Carmen PenaSoto, Hampton (59.62); Spencer Settle, Towson (59.67)

3000m Steeplechase: Catherin Garrison, William & Mary (10:20.24); Savannah Stoutt, Charleston (10:33.84); Kristen Sarnicola, Monmouth (10:44.52)

4x100m Relay: N.C. A&T (44.33$); Towson (45.14); Northeastern (45.23)

4x400m Relay: Hampton (3:37.72); Towson (3:38.31); William & Mary (3:44.61)

High Jump: Spirit Morgan, N.C. A&T (1.85m); Veronica Chaynov, Monmouth (1.82m); Camryn Cole, Northeastern (1.79m)

Long Jump: Rett Schnoor, Monmouth (5.94m); Lauren Jones, William & Mary (5.80m); Danielle James, Hampton (5.75m)

Triple Jump: Olivia Dowd, N.C. A&T (12.70m); Danielle James, Hampton (12:46m); Kiara Murray, Towson (12.20m)

Pole Vault: Lakelyn Bass, UNCW (4.00m); Elizabeth Strobach, William & Mary (3.90m); Olesya Sitkowski, William & Mary (3.90m)

Shot Put: Julieth Nwosu, N.C. A&T (15.65m); Emarie Jackson, Delaware (15.57m); Julie Thomas, Monmouth (15.07m)

Discus: Olamide Ayeni, Delaware (52.53m); Damali Williams, Hampton (50.69m); Rochele Solmon, Hampton (47.16m)

Hammer Throw: Adirana Clarke, Elon (55.94m); Vanessa Wood, Monmouth (54.14m); Mackenzie Stephens, Delaware (53.47m)

Javelin: Jordyn Robbins, UNCW, (42.73m); Morgan Reiner, Delaware (42.59m); Rachel Schmitt, Delaware (39.39m)

Heptathlon: Lizzie Lopez, Elon (4959); Leeann Redlo, Towson (4884); Sara Manson, Delaware (4677)

# – CAA Record

$ – Meet Record

 

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WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Volleyball Coach Josh Collins has announced the addition of six incoming freshmen to the Bulldogs’ roster for the 2025 season.
 
“I am thrilled to welcome this talented and dynamic group of freshmen to our program,” said Collins. “Each of them brings a unique combination of experience, skill, and competitive drive that will undoubtedly elevate our team. With multiple state championships, district accolades, and a strong background in multi-sport athleticism, this class is poised to make an immediate impact. I’m excited to have them join the Bulldog family and am ready to see them develop, grow, and thrive in our program’s culture.”
 
Fresh off the first Great American Conference championship in program history, SWOSU will look to continue its momentum by adding the six freshmen to a group of seven returners. Collins, now a three-time GAC Coach of the Year, enters his 14th season as the head coach of SWOSU Volleyball in 2025.
 

Mackenzie Sims
Setter | 5’10    
Amarillo, Texas (Bushland HS)
 
“Mackenzie comes to SWOSU following an extremely decorated high school career. As a three-time 3A State Champion and two time State MVP in Texas, we expected her to bring that experience to SWOSU and impact this program immediately. As a setter, she navigates the game at an extremely high level. We are excited for Mackenzie to become a DAWG!”

Sydnee Winfrey
Middle Hitter | 5’10    
Canyon, Texas (Canyon HS)
 
“Sydnee comes to SWOSU as a very dynamic athlete. Coming from a family that is heavily involved in college athletics, it is in Sydnee’s blood to be a competitor. She has had great success playing in numerous sports in high school and we cannot wait to add her competitive spirit to our program.”

Preslee Alaniz
Middle Hitter | 6’0   
Friendswood, Texas (Friendswood HS)
 
“We are excited to add Preslee’s length to our program. She is a decorated district blocker who reads the game very well. We know Preslee will not only come in and develop this program, but we expect her to excel in the culture as well.”

Claire Occkiogrosso
Right Side | 5’10    
Arlington, Texas (Grace Prep Academy)
 
“Claire brings state championships experience to SWOSU. She has played in a very competitive 4A private school division in Texas. As a left-handed right side, she adds versatility to our offense. We expect Claire to come in and continue to build the culture of this team and program. We’re excited for Claire to be here and be a DAWG.”

Kaylyn Christy
Outside Hitter | 5’10   
Fishers, Ind. (Hamilton Southeastern HS)
 
“We are excited for KK to bring a high level of volleyball IQ to our program. She has competed on very competitive club and school teams and has won 2 state championships in Indiana. Her experience in many different positions and ability to impact all sides of the game will be a great addition to this program.”

Katja Blanchat
Middle Hitter | 6’0
Lindsborg, Kan. (Smoky Valley HS)
 
“Katja is another multi-sport high school athlete that is very decorated. As a middle, she will be very dynamic for this program and we expect her to use her poise to make an impact quickly. We cannot wait for Kat to join the Bulldog family.”

 

2025 CSC All-District® Women’s At-Large Team

Orangeburg, N.Y. (6/26/25)  Six Dominican University New York student-athletes were named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Women’s At-Large Team which was released announced by the organization.

Women’s bowler Briana Sinnot was named to the team, along with women’s lacrosse players: Sydney Strohmayer, Grace DeStasio, Erin Carr, Caitlin Costello and Josie Lettieri.

The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.

For at-large teams, each institution is allowed a maximum of six total nominations among the following sports and meet certain athletic and academic eligibility requirements.

• Men’s and Women’s Fencing (Eligible nominees must compete in four competitions OR finish top-eight in their weapon at a conference championship meet) 
• Men’s and Women’s Golf (Eligible nominees must be in the lineup for 70 percent of an institution’s TEAM SCORING events OR in the lineup at the conference championship tournament)
• Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics (Eligible nominees must be ranked in the top-75 in an event within their division according to Road to Nationals rankings AND/OR eligible nominees must have competed at their divisional national championship event)
• Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey (Eligible nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s games played OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution’s games. For goalies, a student-athlete must have started at least 50 percent of an institutions games)
• Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse (Eligible nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s games played OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution’s games) 
• Men’s and Women’s Rifle (Eligible nominees must compete in 75 percent of institutions events OR compete at the NCAA championships)
• Men’s and Women’s Skiing (Eligible nominees must compete in four carnivals OR compete at the NCAA championships) 
• Men’s Volleyball (Eligible nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s matches played OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution’s matches. Liberos, although not counted in stats as a starter, may be counted as such for nominating purposes) 
• Men’s and Women’s Water Polo (Eligible nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s games played OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution’s games) 
• Men’s Wrestling (Eligible nominees must be in the lineup for at least 70 percent of TEAM SCORING events (open tournaments, duals) OR compete in their weight class at a conference championship meet. NOTE: Women’s wrestling is only eligible for nomination in the NAIA. Women’s wrestling is expected to become eligible under NCAA At-Large in 2025-26, when the NCAA begins sponsoring a championship for the sport)
• Women’s Beach Volleyball (Student-athletes must be in the lineup for 70 percent of an institution’s TEAM SCORING events) 
• Women’s Bowling (Student-athletes must be in the lineup for 70 percent of an institution’s days of competition) 
• Women’s Crew/Rowing (Eligible nominees must compete in four competitions OR compete as a member of an NCAA boat (1V8, 2V8, 1V4) at a conference championship) 
• Women’s Field Hockey (Eligible nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s games played OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution’s games) 

For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.

Middlebury head cross country and assistant track and field coach Nicole Wilkerson has been selected as a member of Rice University’s Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Wilkerson, then Aleskowitch, graduated from Rice in 1993 and was a force in the distance events as a member of the track and field team. She was a three-time Southwest Conference Champion in the 3,000, claiming the crown twice indoors and once outdoors and a member of the 3,200 relay squad that hoisted the trophy in 1992. During her redshirt season in 1994, Wilkerson guided Rice to its first top-10 team finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing fourth in the 3,000. Her time of 9:27.89 is the second-fastest in program history. 
 

“We are proud of Nicole for being recognized by her alma mater for her outstanding athletic career,” said Director of Athletics Erin Quinn ’86. “Nicole has translated her athletic success at Rice seamlessly into a stellar coaching career at Middlebury, and it is exciting to see her receive this recognition for her athletic accomplishments.”

 
Wilkerson helped guide women’s cross country to five NCAA Championships, while combining for 10 NESCAC Titles between the men’s and women’s programs. In track and field, she has assisted the men’s and women’s squads to six conference crowns, most recently in 2025 on the men’s side. Wilkerson has been lauded with numerous awards throughout her tenure, highlighted by a trio of United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) New England Coach of the Year honors in cross country, as well as being tabbed the NESCAC Cross Country Coach of the Year four times. In track and field, she has earned USTFCCCA New England Assistant Coach of the Year accolades on six occasions, while being lauded with her colleagues as the NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year seven times. 
 

“I am very honored by this recognition from my alma mater,” said Wilkerson. “Rice has always balanced great academics and athletics, and I am a proud alumnae. It means a lot to me to be recognized in this class and to join the ranks in the Hall of Fame.”

 
Wilkerson will be inducted into the Rice University Athletics Hall of Fame alongside six other Owls on Friday, October 24, 2025.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida volleyball and head coach Kristen Wright unveiled the 2025 schedule on Thursday. 
 
“We can’t wait to see our fans back in UNF Arena,” Wright said. “We have some exciting home matches with an elevated and electric match day experience. Our crowd propels us to new heights every time we pack the arena. I’m certain that our fans are going to love all the new faces and will see what this dominant veteran-led program can accomplish this fall.”
 
The Ospreys will compete in 29 matches – 13 in non-conference and 16 in ASUN Conference action. North Florida will play 14 matches at home and 15 on the road this season. 
 

For the first time in program history, North Florida will compete against UIC, Harvard, Howard, Prairie View A&M, UTSA and UT Arlington. North Florida returns to the court after it continued its program-record streak to five-straight winning seasons in ASUN Conference action in 2024. 
 
North Florida will play four matches against teams that competed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament – FGCU, Florida, Florida State and UT Arlington. 
 
Fans can get their initial look at the team when North Florida hosts its Navy vs. Grey intersquad scrimmage and an exhibition against Olymp Praha Club on Aug. 23. Both matches will be held at UNF Arena and admission is free. 
 
North Florida opens its season when it hosts the North Florida Sunshine Tournament presented by Holiday Inn Express and Suites on Aug. 29-31. North Florida faces Georgia Southern on Aug. 29, Florida State on Aug. 30 and UIC on Aug. 31. 
 
North Florida remains in state and heads south to battle FAU on Sept. 2. North Florida returns home to host its second in-season tournament with the UNF Invitational presented by Sheraton Jacksonville 5-7. North Florida welcomes Presbyterian on Sept. 5, Harvard on Sept. 6 and Howard on Sept. 7. 
 

North Florida competes in the Furman Invite on Sept. 11-13, where it will play Winthrop on Sept. 11, host Furman on Sept. 12 and Alabama State on Sept. 13. North Florida travels to the Roadrunner Classic where it will face Prairie View A&M and host UTSA in a doubleheader on Sept. 19 before it battles UT Arlington on Sept. 20.
 
The Ospreys open conference action with three-straight away matches at West Georgia on Sept. 26, Queens on Sept. 28 and at crosstown rival Jacksonville for the first of two River City Rumble matches on Oct. 2 before its conference home opener against Central Arkansas on Oct. 4.
 
After its conference home opener, North Florida travels for consecutive away matches at Lipscomb on Oct. 10 and Austin Peay on Oct. 11.
 
North Florida alternates between a pair of home and road matches next when it hosts Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 17 and Bellarmine on Oct. 18 before it heads south to FGCU on Oct. 24 and Stetson on Oct. 26. 
 
The Ospreys close out conference action with five of their final six matches at home.
 
North Florida hosts Jacksonville on Oct. 30 before an away match at North Alabama on Nov. 2. North Florida concludes its regular season with four consecutive home matches over an eight-day stretch. North Florida hosts Queens on Nov. 7, West Georgia on Nov. 8, Stetson on Nov. 14 and FGCU on Nov. 15.
 
The 2025 ASUN Volleyball Championship will take place at FGCU’s Alico Arena on Nov. 20-23. North Florida travels to face Florida in a postseason prep match on Nov. 29. 
 
Season tickets are on sale now for $60 through the link above or through contacting the North Florida Athletics Ticket Office staff at 904-620-BIRD (2473) or ospreytickets@unf.edu. Fans can secure a fall-sports package that includes volleyball, men’s soccer and women’s season tickets for $100. Those who aim to secure a premium hospitality experience can reserve their spot through contacting the North Florida Athletics Development staff.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A total of 1,700 student-athletes were named to the 2025 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll, announced Thursday by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. The Honor Roll includes the sports of baseball, beach volleyball, golf, softball, tennis, and track and field. It is based on grades from the 2024 Summer, Fall and 2025 Spring terms.

South Carolina had 108 student-athletes make the list, the department’s sixth year in a row with a total reaching triple figures.

Any student-athlete who participates in a Southeastern Conference championship sport or a student-athlete who participates in a sport listed on his/her institution’s NCAA Sports Sponsorship Form is eligible for nomination to the Academic Honor Roll. The following criteria will be followed: (1) An undergraduate student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.00 or above for either the preceding academic year (two semesters or three quarters) or have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above at the nominating institution. A graduate student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.0 or above for either the preceding academic year (two semesters or three quarters) of graduate school enrollment or have a cumulative graduate school grade point average of 3.00 or above at the nominating institution. Undergraduate grade point average may not be included in the graduate point average calculation for a graduate student. (2) If a student-athlete attends summer school, his/her grade point average during the summer academic term must be included in the calculation used to determine eligibility for the Academic Honor Roll. (3) Student-athletes eligible for the Honor Roll include those receiving an athletics scholarship, recipients of an athletics award (i.e., letter winner), and non-scholarship student-athletes who have been on a varsity team for two seasons. (4) An undergraduate student-athlete must have successfully completed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of non-remedial academic credit toward a baccalaureate degree at the nominating institution. A graduate student-athlete must have successfully completed 18 semester or 27 quarter hours of academic credit toward a graduate degree at the nominating institution. (5) The student-athlete must have been a member of a varsity team for the sport’s entire NCAA Championship segment.

South Carolina’s honorees are as follows:

Baseball (14)

• Ryan Bakes – Retailing
• Mathew Becker – Public Health
• Jordan Carrion – Services Management
• Eddie Copper – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Dylan Eskew – Non-degree Seeking
• Blake Jackson – Master’s of Sport and Entertainment Management
• Elijah Jerzembeck – Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Kennedy Jones – Services Management
• Roman Kimball – Visual Communications
• Parker Marlatt – Retailing
• Ethan Petry – Sports Media
• Tyler Pitzer – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Evan Stone – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Will Tippett – Retailing

Beach Volleyball (9)

• Hanna Bissler – Advertising
• Morgan Downs – Advertising
• Abigail Lagemann – Exercise Science
• Sadie Nelson – Marketing
• Kristen Schenck – Finance
• VB Trost – Marketing
• Kennedy Westendorff – Biological Sciences
• Peyton Yamagata – Exercise Science
• Evie Ziffer – Retailing

Men’s Golf (5)

• Zach Adams – Service Management
• Bo Carpenter – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Ismael Encinas – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Nathan Franks – Finance
• Walker Jennings – Finance

Women’s Golf (7)

• Camila Burnet – Sports Media
• Sophia Burnet – Data and Communication
• Hannah Darling – Psychology
• Vairana Heck – Business Economics
• Maylis Lamoure – Psychology
• Mia Lussand – Finance
• Louise Rydqvist – Double Major: Finance & Marketing

Softball (6)

• Brooke Blankenship – Sociology
• Jori Heard – Sport & Entertainment Management
• Natalie Heath – Retailing
• Carlie Henderson – Sport & Entertainment Management
• Emma Sellers – Retailing
• Karley Shelton – Sport & Entertainment Management

Men’s Tennis (9)

• Gabriel Avram – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Lucas da Silva – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Sean Daryabeigi – Sociology
• Cole Henceroth – Risk Management and Insurance
• Casey Hoole – Psychology
• Atakan Karahan – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Jelani Sarr – Retailing
• Max Stenzer – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Connor Thomson – Master’s of Sport and Entertainment Management

Women’s Tennis (4)

• Sarah Hamner – Marketing
• Anna Kantor – Psychology
• Olympe Lancelot – Marketing
• Misa Malkin – Sport and Entertainment Management

Men’s Track and Field (24)

• Rogerio Amaral – Exercise Science
• Andrew Bond – Information Science
• James Clark – Retailing
• Blake Cook – Political Science
• Brandon Dennis – Mechanical Engineering
• Jasauna Dennis – Sports Media
• Aaron Eison – Criminal Justice
• Channing Ferguson – Public Health
• Grant Goldsmith – Exercise Science
• Aidan Haton – Finance
• Prescot Jefferson – Criminal Justice
• Jaouad Khchina – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Samuel Kolowith – Mechanical Engineering
• Joshua Kosgei – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Carlos Lanzagorta-Ruiz – Finance
• Christopher Licata – Master of Business Administration
• Bryson Miller – Cyber Policy and Ethics
• Theophilus Mudzengerere – Sports Media
• Josue Salazar-Richardson – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Parker Samuelson – Biomedical Engineering
• Sean Sanders – Biology
• Luke Schuller – Management
• Dylan Targgart – Master of Business Administration
• David Warmington – Information Science

Women’s Track and Field (30)

• Anya Arroyo – Neuroscience
• Anna Boyd – Management
• Sylvia Chelangat – Public Health
• Teresa Cherotich – Hospitality Management
• Madison Childress – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Sarah DiVasta – Finance
• Brooke Donoghue – Finance
• Macey Dowe – Physical Education
• Caitlyn Gemmill – Biology
• Cynteria James – Exercise Science
• Hattie Jennings – Visual Communications
• Sofia Kurzawa – Mass Communications
• Maria Lombardi – Public Health
• Ella Lucas – Sport and Entertainment Management
• Julia McBride – Mechanical Engineering
• Sarah Nalimo – Public Health
• Molly Parker – Public Health
• Aubrey Pierontoni – Public Health
• Lena Richardson – Biology
• Cheyla Scot – Sports media
• Hailey Sharkey – Marketing
• Cailyn Sharneck – Management
• Emma Stone – Finance
• Maleah Tidwell – Information Technology
• Hannah Togami – Visual Communications
• Emma Torbert – Biology
• Emily Valentine – Marketing
• Lilian Weeks – Elementary Education
• Allyson Wilson – Nursing
• Ella Zeigler – Management