Five Hope College student-athletes have been selected for the 2025 Academic All-District® Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country teams, selected by College Sports Communicators: seniors Maddy Struck and Amanda Timonen, and juniors Molly Durow, Catherine Leahy and Sara Schermerhorn.

The program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes women’s track and field honorees in four divisions: NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members and announced later this summer.q

Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South HS) is an elementary education major who earned All-MIAA accolades in all three seasons during the 2024-25 academic year. Durow claimed USTFCCCA All-Great Lakes Region honors in the outdoor 800-meter honors and MIAA titles in the outdoor 800 meters, indoor 800 meters and indoor distance medley relay.

Leahy (Elk Rapids, Michigan / Elk Rapids) is an exercise science and psychology major who received USTFCCCA All-Great Lakes Region accolades in the indoor and outdoor 4×400 relays this season. Leahy also helped the Flying Dutch win MIAA titles in the outdoor 4×100, outdoor 4×400 and indoor 4×400 relays, earning All-MIAA recognition twice.

Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) is an exercise science major and a four-time All-American this season (indoor and outdoor 200 and 400 meters). Schermerhorn claimed seven all-region honors (indoor 60 meters, outdoor 100 meters, indoor and outdoor 200 meters, indoor 400 meters, and indoor and outdoor 4×400 relays. The MIAA’s Most Valuable Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete captured seven MIAA titles, including five individual. Schermerhorn is the first MIAA women’s runner to win MIAA indoor championships in the 60 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters in the same season.

Struck (Hainesville, Illinois / Grayslake Central) was an exercise science major. The senior claimed All-MIAA First Team honors in indoor track after helping the Flying Dutch win the distance medley relay. Struck also earned All-MIAA Second Team honors in cross country.

Timonen (Palatine, Illinois / William Fremd) was a special education major. The senior claimed All-MIAA First Team honors during the outdoor season in the javelin after repeating as MIAA champion in the event. 

The Division III CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Division III Academic All-America® programs. 
 
For more information about the CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.

CHENEY, Wash. – For Cassie Moeller, coming to Eastern Washington University wasn’t just a transfer—it was a homecoming.

Born and raised in Spokane, Cassie grew up immersed in the Eastern athletics community. “My whole life, I was going to Eastern games,” she said. “A lot of my coaches were former players or even coaches here. It was like everyone around me was always talking about Eastern—it felt like a part of who I was before I ever got here.”

Now, after a collegiate journey that began at Western Washington University and took her to Spokane Falls Community College, Cassie is stepping into the Division I spotlight with Eastern volleyball. But her path to this point wasn’t a straight line—it was a winding one paved with growth, challenges, and deep-rooted love for both the game and her community.

A Product of the 509

Representing Spokane and the greater 509 region carries deep meaning for Cassie. “It feels like I get to show what the 509 kids are made of,” she said. “It’s like this pride of being homegrown—of putting on that jersey and knowing you’re playing for something bigger than yourself.”

She sees Eastern not just as a school, but as a continuation of the volleyball community that shaped her. “Wade Benson, Allen Allen, Nicole Rayborn, Shawn Wilson, Jaimie Lee… I’ve had so many amazing coaches in Spokane. They all helped me see that I could get to this level.”

A Journey Through Change

Fresh out of high school, Cassie wanted to explore beyond her comfort zone. She left Spokane for Bellingham to attend Western Washington, ready to embrace independence. “I was ready to go anywhere—California, Texas, wherever,” she said. “I wanted to see something new.”

But after a year away, the excitement of distance was tempered by the reality of missing home. Long drives, expensive flights, and being away from her biggest support system—her family—began to weigh heavily.

That led her to Spokane Falls, where she credits coach Elizabeth Harden with not only helping her maintain her game but pushing her to grow as a leader. “She believed in me when I wasn’t sure I’d be picked up late in the transfer portal. She helped me develop my leadership skills and taught me how to be competitive while still keeping things lighthearted.”

Finding Her Fit

Meeting the Eastern volleyball coaches sealed the deal. “I already knew one of them personally, and the moment I talked with them, I could feel their passion for the game and their love for the team. It was like this energy just came off them. I wanted to be around that.”

For Cassie, choosing Eastern wasn’t just about volleyball. It was about staying close to the people who’ve supported her since day one. “I’m very family-oriented,” she said. “Being able to grow on my own while still being close enough to go home for a quick visit—it’s the best of both worlds.”

She smiled when she talked about the idea of calling her mom just to stop by, or how her family can finally come watch her games again. “That means the world to me. It’s comforting in a way that makes me feel like I can really thrive here.”

Eyes on the Future

Cassie isn’t shy about her goals—on and off the court.

On the court, she wants to contribute in whatever way the team needs. “Whether I’m starting, rotating in, or just hyping everyone up from the bench—I want to be the one they can count on,” she said. “Versatile. Loud. Supportive. That’s who I want to be.”

Off the court, her sights are set on creating relationships that go beyond college. “I want these girls to be my lifelong friends. The kind of people I can invite to my wedding, or call when I need help with something.”

She’s currently pursuing a degree in exercise science with aspirations to go into nursing. “Right now, I’m figuring out the best route, but eventually I’d love to work in a medical field where I can help people, maybe even athletic training,” she said.

Building the Next Chapter

Cassie’s story is one of coming full circle. From dreaming of new places to realizing the power of home, she’s now at a school that reflects everything she values: family, growth, support, and community.

Eastern isn’t just a stop on her volleyball journey—it’s a place where she plans to leave a mark.

“I could have gone far away,” she said. “But staying here, playing for a school that means something to my family and my community—that means everything.”

 

Join the Eagle Athletic Fund for as low as $50 per year! Support Eagle student-athletes on and off the field while enjoying exclusive EAF perks such as season ticket and tailgating priority, invitations to special events, exclusive access and more. Visit goeags.com/eaf for more information.

ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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There were 32 boys and 35 girls named to the Illinois Water Polo all-sectional team in 2025, with a number of repeat selections along the way.

Here’s a look at the 2025 all-sectional selections from the Journal-area:

Girls Water Polo:

Barrington Sectional:

First Team:

Reese Winegar (Sr.), Fremd

Elly Jo Fay (Sr.), Fremd

Caterina Gaido (Jr.), Fremd

Melissa Loch (Jr.), Hersey

Coco Schultz (Sr.), Hersey

Sasha Martschenko (Sr.), Prospect

Nora Bestor (Sr.), Conant

Second Team: 

Molly Boldt (Jr.), Fremd

Emily Steinberg (Jr.), Hersey

Katelyn Royal (So.), Prospect

Brooke Broz (So.), Conant

Vivian Myers (So.), Palatine

Honorable Mention:

Aubrey Schinkel (Jr.), Fremd

Andrea Teves (Sr.), Hersey

Julia Rarau (Sr.), Prospect

Kaya Rudzinski (Jr.), Conant

Nora Montgomery (Jr.), Rolling Meadows

Sectional Coach of the Year: Fremd’s Theresa Knowles

Notes: Knowles was selected as a sectional Coach of the Year last season as well. Also repeating as all-sectional selections on the player’s side were Loch (1st team in 2024), Fay (1st team), Martschenko (1st team), Schultz (2nd team), Winegar (2nd team), Steinberg (honorable mention), Rarau (honorable mention) and Montgomery (honorable mention). Winegar was an honorable mention selection in 2023 as a sophomore and Fay was also a second team selection in 2023. Hersey’s Loch was a second team selection in 2023 as a freshman, making her a perfect 3-for-3 in her career as an all-sectional selection. Prospect’s Matschenko was an honorable mention selection in 2023 as well.

Glenbrook South Sectional:

First Team:

Lauren Capper (Jr.), Maine West

Kristyna Kubisova (Sr.), Maine South

Second Team: 

Maya Biela (Sr.), Maine West

Roxanne Lazanyi (Sr.), Maine East

Nikki Kirov (Sr.), Niles West

Maeve Przekota (Jr.), Maine South

Seira Honda (Sr.), Glenbrook South

Honorable Mention:

Nicole Kaner (So.), Maine West

Maria Korovilas (Jr.), Maine South

Sectional Coach of the Year: Evanston’s Maggie Hatcher

Notes: Capper (1st team in 2024), Przekota (2nd team), Biela (honorable mention) and Lazanyi (honorable mention) were also all-sectional selections in 2024. Hatcher was also a sectional Coach of the Year selection last year. Capper was also an honorable mention all-sectional selection along with Lazanyi in 2023. Capper was the only freshman selected in the 2023 GBS sectional. Biela was a second team selection for Maine West as well in 2023 as a sophomore.

Libertyville Sectional:

First Team:

Olivia Spieth (Jr.), Stevenson

Elsa Kusevskis (Jr.), Stevenson

Victoria Duncan (Sr.), Stevenson

Second Team: 

Jillian Carlson (Sr.), Stevenson

Jenny Dawson (Sr.), Wheeling

Honorable Mention:

Caroline Bichkoff (So.), Stevenson

Annie Flershem (Sr.), Buffalo Grove

Sectional Coach of the Year: Libertyville’s Tracy Balla

Notes: Spieth (1st team all-sectional in 2024) is one of three repeat all-sectional selections from last year. Kusevskis (honorable mention) and Dawson (honorable mention) were also recognized last year.

York Sectional:

Second Team: 

Anastasija Jevtic (Jr.), Elk Grove

Emily Diaz (Sr.), Leyden

Sectional Coach of the Year: York’s Mark Giuliani

Note: Diaz and Jevtic also earned second team all-sectional honors in 2024.

Boys Water Polo:

Barrington Sectional:

First Team:

Nick Maslowski (Sr.), Palatine

Brodie Piecuch (Sr.), Palatine

Hubert Roszkowski (Sr.), Palatine

Tyler Franke (Sr.), Fremd

Amar Osman (Fr.), Fremd

Second Team: 

Colten Hilgers (Jr.), Palatine

Roman Fisher (Sr.), Fremd

Daniel Thielen (Sr.), Hersey

Victor Kozlowski (Jr.), Conant

Honorable Mention:

Tyler Schiavone (Sr.), Palatine

Finley Winegar (So.), Fremd

Caleb Bertermann (Sr.), Rolling Meadows

Sectional Coach of the Year: Schaumburg’s Tyler Clark

Notes: Clark repeated as sectional Coach of the Year for the Saxons. The repeating all-sectional player selections from the Journal-area include Franke (1st team in 2024), Piecuch (1st team), Fisher (2nd team), Bertermann (2nd team) and Thielen (honorable mention). Hersey’s Tyler Steinberg was selected to the all-sectional team in 2023 and 2024, but didn’t make the team in 2025.

Glenbrook South Sectional:

First Team:

Ben Przekota (Sr.), Maine South

Kevin O’Connor (Sr.), Glenbrook South

Second Team: 

Alex Verdet (Sr.), Prospect

Adrian Vucic (Sr.), Niles West

Nick Garate (Sr.), Glenbrook South

Milo Ford (Sr.), Loyola Academy

Charles McCauley (Fr.), Maine South

Honorable Mention:

Luke Stojiljkovic (Sr.), Maine West

Miron Denisenko (Sr.), Maine East

Filip Ristic (So.), Maine South

Jaydan Oh (Jr.), Glenbrook South

Sectional Coach of the Year: New Trier’s David Rafferty-Flatter 

Notes: Rafferty-Flatter was also the sectional Coach of the Year in 2024. There were 12 Journal-area players selected to the all-sectional team in 2024 and three of them repeated in 2025: Przekota (2nd team in 2024), O’Connor (2nd team) and Ford (honorable mention). Przekota was also an honorable mention all-sectional selection in 2023.

Libertyville Sectional:

First Team:

Anthony Cardone (So.), Stevenson

Armeet Gill (Jr.), Stevenson

Kenny Weisner (Jr.), Stevenson

Tamazi Sanadiradze (Jr.), Buffalo Grove

Second Team: 

Matt Woods (Jr.), Stevenson

Ben Inglis (So.), Buffalo Grove

Honorable Mention:

Ben Tosyali (So.), Stevenson

Joe Buttitta (So.), Buffalo Grove

Sectional Coach of the Year: Buffalo Grove’s Tom Cooney

Notes: Armeet Gill repeated as a first team all-sectional selection (2024, 2025), while Weisner jumped from an honorable mention last year to first team this year. Buffalo Grove had one all-sectional selection in 2024, but increased to three this year.

York Sectional:

Honorable Mention:

Kacper Piekutowski (Jr.), Leyden

Sectional Coach of the Year: Fenwick’s Beto Garcia

Note: Piekutowski was a second team all-sectional selection in 2024.

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GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Golden Grizzlies showed their ability not only on the track, but also in the classroom this past season as the College Sports Communicators unveiled their 2025 Track and Cross Country Academic All-District Teams.

The 2024 Academic All-District® teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the track and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Eight Golden Grizzlies were named as honorees this past season. For the men, Michael Hancock, Anthony Hancock, and Simon Griemert were all honored. For the women, Grace Nolan, Ashley Quinn, Erin Hegarty, Jamie Giese, and Ke’Vina Finch were all selected.

See the full list of nationwide honorees HERE.