2025-26 NAIA Scholar-Athletes complete with Spring 2026 recipients named
The NAIA released their final season's Scholar-Athletes as the spring 2026 honorees were announced last week, with 30 members of the Clarke University baseball, golf, softball, track and field, and men's volleyball teams earning the recognition.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As the academic and athletic calendar nears its completion of the 2025-26 season, the NAIA released their final season's Scholar-Athletes as the spring 2026 honorees were announced last week, with 30 members of the Clarke University baseball, golf, softball, track and field, and men's volleyball teams earning the recognition.
The following is from the NAIA's release:
"The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) proudly announces the 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for winter sports. Each semester, the NAIA Scholar‑Athlete list celebrates student‑athletes who excel in both academic and athletic arenas. This honor recognizes student-athletes in each of the winter sports who have excelled academically, including basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, competitive dance, swimming & diving and wrestling.
To qualify as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended their institution for at least one full year. This year, the list features an impressive number of student-athletes who have met these rigorous standards."
The full NAIA release can be found here: https://www.naia.org/sports/ScholarAthleteAwards/2025-26/springSA
Alex Ainsworth - Baseball
Bryn Vantiger - Baseball
Christian Ayers - Baseball
Cole Swartz - Baseball
Daniel Mendez - Baseball
Jay Marcantonio - Baseball
Jaiden Russin - Baseball
Joe Hall - Baseball
Cody Leon - Men's Golf
Irene Metaxas - Women's Golf
Jessi Wagner - Women's Golf
Ella Wetjen - Softball
Jazz Daughtrey - Softball
Jenna Ulin - Softball
Kora Eng - Softball
Lauren Hefel - Softball
Meredith Gatto - Softball
Reece Fleming - Softball
Savannah Roberts - Softball
Taryn Hoffman - Softball
Bryce Kondos - Men's Track and Field
Chesney Capron - Men's Track and Field
Cord Nietert - Men's Track and Field
Drew Pate - Men's Track and Field
Omarr Locke - Men's Track and Field
Malia Beich - Women's Track and Field
Benjamin Reiser - Men's Volleyball
Jason Romero - Men's Volleyball
Kyle Scott - Men's Volleyball
Tanner May - Men's Volleyball
With the addition of these 30 student-athletes, the Pride finish the school year with 95 total NAIA Scholar-Athletes over the entirety of this current season of 2025-26.