164 Received NAIA Scholar-Athletes Honors

May 4, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for spring sports. 50 student-athletes from eight American Midwest Conference (AMC) schools made the list.

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 spring sports who have excelled academically, including baseball, softball, golf, and track & field.

Columbia led all schools with 45 honorees, followed by Health Sciences & Pharmacy with 29. Central Baptist added 22 with Mission following closely behind with 21. Williams Baptist had 19 while Cottey added 17. Harris-Stowe had seven, while Crowley's Ridge had five.

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.

Full Scholar-Athletes lists

Scholar-Athletes by institution CLICK HERE

Scholar-Athletes by name CLICK HERE

Scholar-Athletes by conference CLICK HERE

Scholar-Athletes by sport CLICK HERE

NAIA Spring Scholar-Athletes

Aiden Jones, Central Baptist

Carter Harris, Central Baptist

Daniella Alastre, Central Baptist

David Platt, Central Baptist

Eden East, Central Baptist

Elizabeth Stoufer, Central Baptist

George Astacio, Central Baptist

Joshua Lumsden, Central Baptist

Kayla O'Kelley, Central Baptist

Keely Hoffman, Central Baptist

Kori Truelove, Central Baptist

Laney Crutchfield, Central Baptist

Meg Ainsworth, Central Baptist

Micky Parks, Central Baptist

Preston Nesterenko, Central Baptist

Robert Watson III, Central Baptist

Ryan Carroll, Central Baptist

Ryleigh Keele, Central Baptist

Sydney Weiser, Central Baptist

Taylyn Shuffield, Central Baptist

Thaylia Ramirez, Central Baptist

Walter Fittz, Central Baptist

Abigail Zismer, Columbia

Aleistar Hagan, Columbia

Alyssa Joyce, Columbia

Brenin Howell, Columbia

Brynn Hanway, Columbia

Caleigh Huot, Columbia

Cameron Elder, Columbia

Camryn Swinfard, Columbia

Cassidy Avery, Columbia

Claudia Dixon, Columbia

Cooper Thornhill, Columbia

Dylan Carlton, Columbia

Easton Haslag, Columbia

Elisha Cornish, Columbia

Elizabeth Bigler, Columbia

Ella Schouten, Columbia

Ellie Berendzen, Columbia

Emma Prettyman, Columbia

Grant Erisman, Columbia

Griffin Booth, Columbia

Harrison Knernschield, Columbia

Hayden Kramer, Columbia

Hunter Shoulta, Columbia

Jace Carr, Columbia

Jackson Forck, Columbia

Jason Pearl, Columbia

Joseph Hoerchler, Columbia

Kaelin Tindall, Columbia

Kalieb Redda, Columbia

Kelly Welby, Columbia

Kierstin Maddox, Columbia

Laik Graham, Columbia

Landon Mabe, Columbia

Madeline Burton, Columbia

Marianna Tomc, Columbia

Max Stephan, Columbia

Megan Graver, Columbia

Nicholas Hunkins, Columbia

Noah Richardson, Columbia

Paige Thielen, Columbia

Rachel Hargis, Columbia

Reed Layton, Columbia

Rosalie Schneider, Columbia

Ryan Harvey, Columbia

Sheldon Bergheger, Columbia

Sophia Angel, Columbia

William Cherrington, Columbia

Xavia Cullers, Columbia

Zacary Fruend, Columbia

Avery Morris, Cottey

Aydin Soukup, Cottey

Bailey Cravens, Cottey

Ellaina LaNear, Cottey

Estelle Audette, Cottey

Grayce Taylor, Cottey

Hailey Miller, Cottey

Halen Hoelzeman, Cottey

Heather Hayduk, Cottey

Jessie Mick, Cottey

Joliette Johnson, Cottey

Kyndal Soukup, Cottey

Madalenn Fee, Cottey

Riley Easter, Cottey

Aimee Buckley, Crowley's Ridge

Dillon Broussard, Crowley's Ridge

Elijah Mayfield, Crowley's Ridge

Lilly Wessel, Crowley's Ridge

Madelyn Burris, Crowley's Ridge

Christopher Alvarez, Harris-Stowe

Emma Auer, Harris-Stowe

Joseph Mann, Harris-Stowe

Juanesha Washington, Harris-Stowe

Levi LaLonde, Harris-Stowe

Logan Schwerdt, Harris-Stowe

Michael Khatkar, Harris-Stowe

Abby Baxter, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Alicia Kimble, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Arianna Buduan, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Aubrey Lasek, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Barrett Lohman, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Brayden Steves, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Brett Bushue, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Charlotte Dunajcik, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Colin Malally, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Cooper Thomas, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Daniela Nether, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

David Harding, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Eva Kameoka, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Hannah Duggan, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Hunter Noto, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Jacob Meyer, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Jacy Knox, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Karlea Frey, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Karsyn Black, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Kendal Strozier, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Lacie Christensen, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Paulina Gutierrez, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Payton McClellan, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Reece Halley, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Reese Smith, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Talianna Joyner, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Tristan Calmes, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Trysten Murphy, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Wyatt Waters, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Apryl Zeno, Mission

Bradyn Davis, Mission

Carter Vienhage, Mission

Cole Smith, Mission

Coleton Gardner, Mission

Cooper Voliva, Mission

Courtney Merrell, Mission

Frankie Hughes, Mission

Garrett Hunter, Mission

Ian Brown, Mission

Jackson Raney, Mission

Jude Tenny, Mission

Kate Potter, Mission

Kloe Hendrickson, Mission

Landon Parker, Mission

Naomi Daugherty, Mission

Sequoia Cronlund, Mission

Tyson Young, Mission

Zachary Beatty, Mission

Anthony Zaffarano, Williams Baptist

Benjamin Bennett, Williams Baptist

Brevin Carlisle, Williams Baptist

Brianna McPike, Williams Baptist

Connor Brinkley, Williams Baptist

DeKyrah Banister, Williams Baptist

Dylan Richards, Williams Baptist

Emberlin Caldwell, Williams Baptist

Gavin Mink, Williams Baptist

Gracielee Edwards, Williams Baptist

Jackson Finder, Williams Baptist

Kaelyn Gooch, Williams Baptist

Kendra Harness, Williams Baptist

Lawson Aaron, Williams Baptist

Madyson Shoebottom, Williams Baptist

Mason Andrews, Williams Baptist

Paige Thomas, Williams Baptist

William Rogers, Williams Baptist

Wyatt Edwards, Williams Baptist