2025-26 NAIA Scholar-Athletes complete with Spring 2026 recipients named

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.