Sports
Central adds 107 to new academic honor society chapter
PELLA— Central College inducted 107 student-athletes in its new chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, a national honor society for those excelling in both the classroom and in athletics competition.
To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must participate in a sport at the varsity intercollegiate level, achieve junior academic standing or higher after their fourth full time semester, and earn a 3.50 or higher cumulative grade point average. Student-athletes who compete for a collegiate club team are also eligible if the club team is overseen by the athletics department at the local chapter.
Chi Alpha Sigma was founded in 1996 by former DePauw University head football coach, Nick Mourouzis. His goal was to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected with a fraternal association that aligns their education and athletic successes for a lifetime. There are 499 active chapters in 47 states, including chapters at 13 Iowa colleges and universities.
Dr. Lori Witt, associate professor of history and one of Central’s faculty athletics representatives, serves as the college’s chapter advisor.
Baseball (3)
Caleb Douglass, sr., Windsor, Colo./Windsor, engineering, 3.73
Patrick Krapfl, sr., Ames, Iowa/Ames, kinesiology, 3.60
Brayden Sawyer, jr., Grundy Center, Iowa/Grundy Center, business management, 3.77
Women’s basketball (4)
Hannah Dau, sr., Paulina, Iowa/South O’Brien HS, kinesiology/biology, 3.64
Abby Johnson, sr., Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny HS, kinesiology, 3.98
Samantha Scott, sr., Davenport, Iowa/North Scott HS, kinesiology, 3.86
*Jasmyn Williams, jr., Denver, Colo./Arvada West HS, undeclared, 3.77
Cheerleading (2)
Sydney Buseman, jr., Hampton, Iowa/Hampton-Dumont/CAL HS, elementary education 3.73
Madison Craig, jr., Solon, Iowa/Solon HS, biology 3.57
Men’s cross country (6)
Kenny Cronin, senior, Des Moines, Iowa/Davis County, accounting, 4.00
*Ben DeValk, senior, Solon, Iowa/Solon, kinesiology, 3.83
*Randy Jimenez, senior, Liberty Center, Iowa/Southeast Warren, business management, 3.94
*Tyler Moon, junior, Storm Lake, Iowa/Storm Lake, undeclared, 3.73
*Drew Peterson, senior, Iowa City, Iowa/West, engineering, 3.59
*Austin Smith, sr., Olathe, Kan./South, kinesiology, 3.54
*Derek Webster, senior, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, chemistry, 3.92
Women’s cross country (8)
Leah Bontrager, junior, Wellman, Iowa/Hillcrest Academy, kinesiology, 3.54
Sara DeHaan, senior, Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls, elementary education, 3.91
Kaleena Hagan, junior, Tipton, Iowa/Tipton, elementary education, 3.67
Eva Hoch, senior, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, political science/English, 3.84
*Annika Kruse, junior, Solon, Iowa/Solon, elementary education, 3.96
*Addison Parrott, senior, Danville, Iowa/Danville, psychology/sociology, 3.86
*Chloe Ristau, junior, Denver, Iowa/Denver, accounting, 3.93
*Kylie Winkler, junior, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, accounting, 3.87
Dance (1)
Jessie Pospisil, sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Cedar Valley Christian HS, business management, 3.68
Football (20)
Nick Bandy, senior, Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert, sociology, 3.61
Brendan Bogaard, senior, Phoenix, Ariz./Northwest Christian, business management, 3.69
Paddy Bozik, junior, Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott, kinesiology, 3.77
Caylor Clark, senior, Pleasantville, Iowa/Pleasantville, kinesiology, 3.56
Cole Clark, junior, Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon, business management, 3.59
Andrew Cotty, junior, Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo, accounting, 3.73
Ben DeMeulenaere, junior, Belle Plaine, Iowa/Belle Plaine, business management, 3.87
Kalvin Erickson, junior, Meeteetse, Wyo./Meeteetse, business management, 3.53
Cael Fiderlein, senior, West Branch, Iowa/West Branch, kinesiology/biology, 3.59
Gavin Hierseman, senior, West Branch, Iowa/West Branch, kinesiology/biology, 3.83
Jack Johnson, senior, Mount Pleasant, Iowa/Mount Pleasant, business management, 3.91
Reece Miller, 5Y, Center Point, Iowa/Center Point-Urbana, strength and conditioning, 3.58
Logan Mont, 5Y, Aurora, Ill./West Aurora, business management/accounting, 3.57
Grant Nelson, senior, Pella, Iowa/Pella, kinesiology, 3.78
Maximus Reitano, junior, Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes, kinesiology, 3.90
*Gavin Smith, junior, Audubon, Iowa/Audubon, accounting, 3.92
Collin Swantz, senior, Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon, business management, 3.51
Ethan Thomas, junior, Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny, kinesiology, 3.57
Jakie Uthe, senior, Dumont, Iowa/Hampton-Dumont, strength and conditioning, 3.91
Kyler Yarnell, senior, Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain, accounting/business management, 3.56
Men’s golf (1)
Alex Gast, jr., Council Bluffs, Iowa/St. Albert, English, 3.99
Women’s golf (2)
Lydia Grond, senior, Hull, Iowa/Boyden-Hull, biochemistry, 3.78
Sophie Lunning, senior, Mason City, Iowa/Mason City, elementary education, 3.88
Men’s soccer (7)
Lucas Bartachek, senior, Waukee, Iowa/Waukee, accounting/business management, 3.55
Nick Colavita, senior, Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain, kinesiology, 3.56
Luke Crawford, junior, Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott, economics, 3.92
Coleman Manuel, senior, Erie, Colo./Erie, biology, 3.65
Alejo Marcon, junior, Resistencia, Argentina/Pella Christian, business management, 3.55
Ronan Murphy, senior, Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt, computer science, 3.66
Josue Torres, junior, Osceola, Iowa/Clarke, kinesiology, 3.73
Women’s soccer (4)
Katy Brown, junior, West Alton, Mo./Orchard Farm, business management/communication studies, 3.74
Grace Coates, senior, Marion, Iowa/Marion, kinesiology, 3.74
Bailey Huizenga, junior, Colona, Ill./Geneseo, kinesiology, 3.99
MiMi Pavelka, junior, Shakopee, Minn./Holy Family, kinesiology, 3.98
Softball (5)
Rachel Barton, jr., Des Moines, Iowa/Saydel, physics, 3.72
Hannah Higgins, jr., Macomb, Ill./Macomb, environmental & sustainability studies/biology, 3.83
Mariah Parton, sr., Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny, kinesiology, 3.61
Kynser Reed, sr., Dallas, Iowa/Melcher-Dallas, kinesiology/business management, 3.68
Rylie Van Wyk, jr., Mitchellville, Iowa/Southeast Polk, elementary education, 3.58
Men’s tennis (4)
Alec Anderson-Conlon, jr., Madison, Wis./Wisconsin Virtual Academy, psychology, 3.98
Quintin Hull, jr., Ottumwa, Iowa/Ottumwa, music, 3.78
Victor Nop, sr., Huxley, Iowa/Ballard, engineering, 3.66
AJ Wilkins, sr., Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell, biology, 3.56
Women’s tennis (7)
Katelyn Freeman, junior, Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View, economics/Spanish/mathematics, 3.88
Keleigh Hall, senior, Keokuk, Iowa/Keokuk, elementary education, 3.84
Jennifer Larson, senior, Johnston, Iowa/Johnston, biochemistry, 3.96
Kalina Schubert, senior, Newell, Iowa/Newell-Fonda, history, 3.83
*Becca Vala, senior, Omaha, Neb./Elkhorn, kinesiology, Spanish, 3.78
Madi Whalen, junior, Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill, environmental & sustainability studies, biology, 3.66
Taylor Wyeth, fifth year, Aurora, Ill./West Aurora, art, 3.55
Men’s track and field (12)
Ben DeValk, sr., Solon, Iowa/Solon, kinesiology, 3.86
Cory Fairbanks, sr., Marion, Iowa/Marion, Spanish, 3.63
Gage Huyser, jr., Pella, Iowa/Pella, accounting/business management, 3.89
*Randy Jimenez, sr., Indianola, Iowa/Southeast Warren, business management, 3.88
JT LaFleur, jr., Bondurant, Iowa/home school, kinesiology, 3.78
Gunner Meyer, jr., Fairbank, Iowa/Wapsie Valley, psychology, 3.54
*Tyler Moon, jr., Storm Lake, Iowa/Storm Lake, accounting/business management, 3.65
Tommy Morlan, jr., Tiffin, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana, mathematics, 3.63
*Drew Peterson, sr., Iowa City, Iowa/West, engineering, 3.68
*Austin Smith, sr., Olathe, Kan./South, kinesiology, 3.54
*Derek Webster, sr., Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, biochemistry, 3.90
*Gavin Smith, so., Audubon, Iowa/Audubon, accounting, 3.92
Women’s Track and Field (13)
Kira Baldus, sr., St. Ansgar, Iowa/St. Ansgar, biochemistry, 3.94
Olivia Bohlen, jr., Belle Plaine, Iowa/Belle Plaine, kinesiology, 4.00
*Leah Bontrager, jr., Wellman, Iowa/Hillcrest Academy, kinesiology, 3.63
*Kaleena Hagen, jr., Tipton, Iowa/Tipton, elementary education, 3.71
*Eva Hoch, senior, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, political science/English, 3.84
*Annika Kruse, jr., Solon, Iowa/Solon, elementary education, 3.97
Emily McMartin, jr., Pella, Iowa/Pella, elementary education, 4.00
Riley Packer, jr., Erie, Ill./Erie, elementary education, 3.74
*Addison Parrott, sr., Danville, Iowa/Danville, psychology, sociology, 3.86
*Chloe Ristau, jr., Denver, Iowa/Denver, accounting, 3.95
Winona Van Berkum, jr., Pella, Iowa/Pella, kinesiology, 3.57
Amber Vroman, sr., Seneca, Ill./Seneca, kinesiology, 3.99
*Jasmyn Williams, jr, Denver, Colo., Arvada West, elementary education, 3.71
Kylie Winkler, jr., Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, 3.87
Volleyball (13)
Gwen Kahlke, senior, Blandinsville, Ill./West Prairie, kinesiology, 3.85
Alexah Mellenberger, senior, New Glarus, Wis./New Glarus, mathematics, 3.60
*Gracie Pierson, senior, Lake City, Minn./Lake City, kinesiology, 3.51
Avery Rexroat, junior, Macomb, Ill./Macomb, biology, 3.91
Makayla Ribble, junior, Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City, elementary education, 3.69
Sara Sienkiewicz, junior, Plainfield, Ill./Neuqua Valley, biology, 3.85
Leslie Snow, junior Olivia, Minn./BOLD, elementary education, 3.80
Men’s wrestling (7)
Elijah Belzer, jr., Wapello, Iowa/Wapello HS, strength and conditioning, 3.95
Cael Cox, sr., Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny HS, engineering, 3.99
Kale Downey, jr., Clarinda, Iowa/Clarinda HS, accounting/business management, 3.61
Trent Harper, jr., Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk HS, actuarial science, 3.64
Jason Hermann, sr., Stockton, Ill./Stockton HS, business management/accounting, 3.74
Nathan Rosas, jr., Harvard, Ill./Harvard HS, computer science, 3.53
Sam West, jr., Burlington, Iowa/Notre Dame HS, business management, 4.00
Women’s wrestling (1)
Esther Belzer, jr., Kalona, Iowa/Hillcrest Academy, information systems, 3.77
*denotes multi-sport athlete
Sports
Nabwe Wins Seventh Career Big Ten Weekly Honor
Nabwe returned to the college indoor scene at the M City Classic where she tossed a season-opening 23.74m (77-10 3/4) in the weight throw to sit at No. 1 in the NCAA. The toss for Nabwe was over four feet further than her 2024 opening weight throw of 22.45m (73-8) at the same meet. Nabwe’s winning throw of 16.40m (53-9 3/4) in the shot put was also an improvement from last year’s opening indoor competition by nearly two feet (15.95m | 52-4). Nabwe’s shot put mark from the M City Classic is ranked No. 3 in the nation and the No. 1 in the Big Ten after last weekend’s action.
The weekly honor for Nabwe is the seventh the redshirt junior has earned between the indoor and the outdoor season. Last indoor season Nabwe became the first Big Ten weight thrower in nine years to repeat as champion at the Big Ten Indoor Championships and was just the fifth Big Ten women’s weight thrower all-time to defend their conference title. According to the USTFCCCA, Nabwe ranks No. 8 all-time with her lifetime best weight throw mark of 24.22m (79-5 1/2) – which she set at last year’s Big Ten Indoor Championships.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
Sports
Kimm, LaPlant and Thompson Earn AVCA All-America Honors
This is the sixth straight season that the Huskies have had at least two players named to the AVCA All-America teams and the fourth time in program history that SCSU has had three or more All-America selections in a season which have all come in the last four seasons (four in 2021, three in 2022, three in 2024).
Thompson becomes the fifth player in program history to become a multi-time All-American after Lindsey Rachel ’22 (3x; 2019, 21, 22), Phebie Rossi ’22 (2x; 2021, 22), former teammate Kenzie Foley ’24 (4x; 2021, 22, 23, 24) and current teammate Emma Berran (2x; 2023, 24). Last season Thompson was also named to the second team. Kimm and LaPlant are the 12th and 13th players in program history to earn All-America honors.
The redshirt senior middle blocker was named a first team All-Central Region performer by the AVCA and Division-II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) after being named a second teamer by the AVCA in 2024. Thompson was also named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) First Team, to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC All-Tournament Team all for the second consecutive season and was also the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year this season. The Lakeville, Minnesota native averaged 3.89 points, 3.37 kills and 0.96 blocks per set this season on .331 hitting this season.
Kimm earned her first all-region and all-conference honors this season after being named to the AVCA All-Central Region First Team and the D2CCA All-Central Region Second team and the All-NSIC First Team. The North Liberty, Iowa native was also named to the to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC All-Tournament Team (second consecutive season). The junior outside hitter averaged 3.88 points, 3.47 digs, 3.40 kills and 0.46 blocks per set this season.
LaPlant also earned the first all-region and all-conference honors of her career this season after being named to the AVCA All-Central Region First Team and the D2CCA All-Central Region Second team and the All-NSIC First Team. The sophomore setter was also named to the to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC All-Tournament Team. She also became just the fifth player in program history to be named AVCA DII Player of the Week and was the lone Husky to earn weekly NSIC honors this season after being named Setter of the Week twice (her first career weekly awards). The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native averaged 11.69 assists, 2.21 digs, 1.23 points, 0.62 kills and 0.49 blocks per set this season.
This season, the Huskies won their second consecutive and fourth overall NSIC Tournament Championship (all in the last five seasons) after taking down the No. 13, No. 2 and No. 5 teams in the country and advanced to the NCAA Central Region Championship/Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season, tying the program record for NCAA Tournament wins in a season, with two (4x; 1995, 2022, 2024, 2025). En route to the region championship, the Huskies beat the No. 17 team in the nation before taking down the No. 2 team and tournament host, Nebraska Kearney, on their home court.
AVCA All-America
Second Team:
Shelby Kimm
Braya LaPlant
Ella Thompson
AVCA RELEASE
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Sports
Blinn makes Bentley history with All-American nod
WALTHAM, Mass. – The 2025 Bentley volleyball team continues to make history. Elizabeth Blinn is the first player in program history to be named to an All-America team, as she landed on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Third Team, the AVCA announced Wednesday morning.
Sophia Poehlein, Tory Vitko, and Lulu Pavan each received All-American Honorable Mention from the AVCA.
Prior to 2025, only two players in Bentley history earned AVCA All-American honors. Christiana Sadowski is a three-time All-American Honorable Mention (2005, 2006, 2007), and Alyssa Carter was an All-American Honorable Mention in 2003.
Heading into Thursday’s NCAA Quarterfinal match, Blinn leads the country in blocks per set (1.67). She is the Northeast 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, and she was named the Most Outstanding Player during the NE10 Tournament.
Poehlein is Bentley’s leading outside hitter, averaging 3.74 kills per set. Three times this year she reached at least 20 kills, each in just four sets. She had a career-high 23 kills in Bentley’s 2025 home-opener against Post.
Vitko is the 2025 NE10 Setter of the Year. She enters the NCAA Quarterfinals averaging 9.37 assists per set, and she has 10 double-doubles this season. Two of those double-doubles were during the NE10 Tournament.
Pavan’s 2.87 kills per set rank second on the team, and she has reached double-digit kills 12 times this season. Pavan’s collegiate career began with 10+ kills in each of her first four matches.
Bentley won the NCAA East Regional title for the third consecutive year. The Falcons are the only program in the country to reach the NCAA DII Championship Quarterfinals in each of the past three seasons.
The Falcons enter the NCAA DII Quarterfinals as the #6 seed, which is the highest seed ever for a team from the East Region. Thursday’s game time against #3 Point Loma is at 12 p.m. (EST).
Sports
Nwachukwu, Walker Tabbed B1G Athletes to Watch – Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics
Sports
Cal Volleyball Adds Siena MacCudden
MacCudden is the third member of the Bears’ 2026 class to receive AVCA All-America recognition.
Defensive Specialist Is A 2025 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention
The California volleyball team has added another member to its incoming freshman class, with defensive specialist Siena MacCudden officially set to join Abby Zimmerman, Anna Flores and Nicole Milosevic as new Golden Bears in 2026. Both MacCudden and Flores have enrolled early and will be practicing with the team this spring.
“Siena is a great competitor and has played high level volleyball her entire career,” Cal volleyball head coach Jen Malcom said. “We appreciate how she carries herself on the court – steady in serve receive and scrappy on the defensive end. She will be a great addition to our back court group this spring. When she said she wanted to join the team early, we knew that we got someone who is all in and wants to be great.”
A native of Nashotah, Wisconsin, the 5-foot-9 product of Arrowhead Union High School was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention after a senior season in which she collected 685 digs, third most in the state, and was named Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association (WVCA) All-State and the Classic 8 Conference Libero of the Year for the second consecutive season while earning AVCA All-Region 6 honors. MacCudden was also named WVCA All-State and All-Conference Honorable Mention as a sophomore in 2023 after leading her team to the first of two consecutive regional titles.
With MacCudden’s assistance, her club team, Milwaukee Sting, won the national championship at the 2023 Girls Junior National Championships (GJNC) 15s, a year in which she was named to the AVCA Phenom and Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) Watch Lists for the first time. MacCudden was also recognized by the JVA Watch List in 2024 and 2025.
STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal volleyball, please follow the Bears on X (@CalVolleyball), Instagram (@calvolleyball), Facebook (Cal Volleyball) and TikTok (@calbearsvb).
Sports
Bryant, Walker Win CAA Track and Field Weekly Honors
GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T men’s and women’s track and field programs started off their respective seasons with programs capturing four first-place finishes apiece over the weekend at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-off hosted by the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, NC.
The Coastal Athletic Association awarded some of those accomplishments by naming junior sprinter Hayleigh Bryant Women’s Track Athlete of the Week and senior Dyimond Walker Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.
Bryant captured her first career weekly honor. She took first place in the seeded 200 meters by running an indoor personal-best 24.03, the eighth-fastest time in the country and the best in the CAA. Bryant joined junior Kymara Brodie, freshman Richari Wildgoose, and junior Serenity Brazell to win the 4×400-meter relay in 3:45.85. Their time is also a CAA-best thus far this season.
Meanwhile, Walker led a strong contingent of Aggies in the 800m. Walker won the event with a time of 1:52.68. Four other Aggies finished in the top 10 to dominate the event, including freshman Taysaun Wilson (2nd, 1:53.05), senior Dawson Grogan (3rd, 1:54.25), sophomore Elijah Thomas (5th, 1:55.69), and junior Kaleb Conway (9th, 1:59.15).
Walker also joined senior Ha’Mir Hampton, Wilson, and junior Isaiah Taylor to run a 3:12.29 to win the 4×400-meter relay. Walker’s 800m time is the best in the CAA and ranks ninth nationally. The Aggies are second in the CAA in the 4×400 and 12th nationally. Bryant, Walker, and the Aggies are not scheduled to return to action until January 17, when they will participate in the Mondo Collegiate Invitational at the JDL Fast Track.
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