Kansas City, MO – The University of the Cumberlands athletic department continues to excel in competition this winter, including capturing five Mid-South Conference Championships so far this year.  The Patriots success on the playing surface has been match by their academic prowess as 60 winter sport student-athletes being named 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athlete, announced by the NAIA national office Tuesday (Feb. 24).
 
Three winter sports teams had double-digit honorees with Women's Swimming & Diving leading the way with 12 recipients. Women's Wrestling tallied 11 honorees, while Men's Swimming & Diving had 10 student-athletes garner this award.  Men's Wrestling finished with nine honorees, while Womens' Basketball notched eight Scholar-Athletes. Men's Basketball, Men's Bowling, Women's Bowling, and Cheer were all represented with at least one Scholar-Athlete.
 
Of the 60 honorees, 22 student-athletes are repeat winners of this honor after earning this distinction last season.  Also, Women's Wrestling saw an increase of four honorees from the 2025 list, while Cheer saw an increase of three honorees. 
 
Criteria for earned this distinction include reaching at least sophomore status and maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.
 
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter - @UC_Patriots, Instagram - @UCPatriots, YouTube – CumberlandsPatriots, Snapchat – UC_Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.

 

Cumberlands' 2025-26 Winter Sport NAIA Scholar Athletes:
Women's Swimming & Dive (12):	Women's Wrestling (11):
Madeline Barbee, Biology	Amy Allgaier, Biology
Mara Ellerkamp, Communication Arts	Presley Anderson, Human Services
Filippa Malmstrom, Communication Arts / Psychology	Angelina Castaneda, Chemistry
Taylor Moren, Exercise Sport Science / Psychology	Kaitlin Castro, Criminal Justice / Psychology
Victoria Niska, Physics	Jaclyn Hodge, Social Studies Education
Megan Robinson, Psychology	Sierra Mefford, Exercise Sport Science / Coaching
Megan Schoenlein, Criminal Justice / Psychology	Micah Miller, Exercise Sport Science / Christian Ministries
Ugne Takuseviciute, Business Administration	Alivia Ming, Exercise Sport Science
Sydney Taylor, Nursing	Mary Jane Porter, Allied Health
Celin Ullern, Business Administration	Kaylin Taylor, Elementry Education
Michelle Weiss, Mathematics & Middle School Education	Elise Toste, Nursing
Sarah Zoellner, Biology
	Women's Basketball (8):
Men's Swimming (10):	Darcie Anderson, Biology
Zsombor Bene, Information Technology Sciences	Mackenzie Babb, Business Administration & Christian Ministries
Marcos del Vado Sanz, Psychology & Information Technology Sciences	Lakin Burke, Middle School Education
Adam Geddis, Business Administration	Zaram Fredricks, Information Technology
Will Gilbert, Information Technology Sciences	Joy Kendrick, Coaching
Leon Irmer, Business Administration & Communication Arts	Emily Naranjo, Exercise Sport Science
Jeremiah Koenig, Accounting	Amy Thompson, Business Administration & Marketing
Arda Mutlu, Information Technology Science / Business Administration	Alexia Wilson, Elementry Education
Josh Riegler, Fitness & Sport Management
Sergio Saldamando Martinez, Business Administration	Men's Basketball (2):
Ruthiik Satti, Business Administration	Brady Bell, Exercise Sport Science
	Brant Smithers, Exercise Sport Scinece / Fitness & Sport Management
Men's Wrestling (9):
Derrick Bannister, Exercise Sport Science	Cheer (3):
Malachia Harris, Accounting	Maddy Burns, Business Administration
Jovon Howe, Business Administration	Ashlynn Gampper, Undeclared
Lincoln Krull, Criminal Justice	Kaylee Holtzapple, Nursing
Marc LeGaspe, Business Administration
Hunter Luttrell, Business Administration	Women's Bowling (4):
Corbin Melvin, Business Administration	Rylee Carter, Criminal Justice
Ben Tarrago, Exercise Sport Science / Business Administration	Allison Finn, English Education
Uriah Virzi, Business Administration	Paige Frantz, Exercise Sport Science
	Skyler Holt, Elementary Education
Men's Bowling (1):
Andrew Ketron, Biology