Five Eagles Named Academic All-District

Rock Hill, S.C. – Five members of the Winthrop softball team were named to the 2025 Academic All-District Team on Tuesday as selected by the College Sports Communicators.

Seniors Megan Powell and Emma Jackson along with junior Grayson Buckner and sophomores Peyton Bryden and Emmy Cardenas were all selected to the all-district team.

The 2025 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Powell graduated this past spring after earning a degree in exercise science. This past season she was voted the Big South Conference Player of the Year and was an All-Conference First Team selection. In 2024 she was also a first team selection and was voted the Big South Newcomer of the Year. Powell finished with a 16-12 record in the circle while sporting a 2.15 ERA with 16 complete games, five shutouts  and 122 strikeouts. At the plate she led the team with a .333 average and had 22 runs, seven doubles, 10 home runs, 22 walks and 35 RBI. In 2021-22 Powell was named an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete in 2022 and 2024.

Jackson graduated this past spring after earning a degree in biology. This past season she started all 53 games in center field and batted .265 with 40 runs, six doubles, eight home runs, 29 walks and 23 RBI. She was also 8-for-8 on the bases. Jackson is a three-time NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete. On March 11 she was named the Big South Player of the Week.

Buckner graduated this past spring with a degree in elementary education. Buckner is also a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete. At Lees-McRae she was voted the Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year and was a Second Team All-Conference selection. This past season she batted .226 with 16 runs, 11 doubles, four home runs and 19 RBI while starting all 53 games.

Bryden is working toward a degree in business. This past season she started 52 of the 53 games she played and was second on the team with a .302 average. She also had 27 runs, 10 doubles, five home runs and 20 RBI. Bryden is a 2024 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.

Cardenas is working toward a degree in biology and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. This past season she missed a few weeks with injury but Cardenas did make 19 appearances in the circle with a 2-4 record and tossed 37.1 innings. She did have 16 plate appearances and had a game-tying home run (first of her collegiate career) at Radford in the top of the seventh with two outs. Cardenas is a 2024 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.

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