May 6, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) proudly announced the 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for spring 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 spring sports who have excelled academically, including track & field, baseball, and softball.
 
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.
 
A total of 23 men's track & field, 19 women's track & field, eight (8) baseball, and five (5) softball student-athletes from Dakota State are named to the prestigious national academic honor. 
 
DSU produced the most combined spring sports NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 55 total student-athletes, breaking the previous record of 51 total athletes from the 2025 spring sports season.
 
The Trojan men's and women's outdoor track & field quads established a single-season school record NAIA scholar athletes with 42 total combined athletes, breaking the previous record of 40 total athletes in 2024-25.
 
Below is the list of 2026 NAIA Spring Sports Scholar Athletes by each sport (name – year – hometown – major):
 
Men's Track & Field
 

• Kaiden Akey – junior – Mankato, Minn. – cyber operations
• Evan Armstrong – junior – Aurora, Colo. – cyber operations
• Luke Borowicz – junior – Jordan, Minn. – cyber operations
• Cody Farland – graduate student – New Underwood, S.D. – cyber operations
• Caden Gortmaker – senior – St. Lawrence, S.D. – cyber operations
• Tysen Grinde – junior – Spring Grove, Minn. – computer science
• Zachary Haugen – graduate student – Bath, S.D. – education and technology
• Mattix Hausman – sophomore – Estelline, S.D. – exercise science
• Lane Henrichs – junior – Doon, Iowa – cyber operations
• Bergen Irey – sophomore – Sioux Fals, S.D. – cyber operations
• Holden Jelen – sophomore – Tea, S.D. – cyber operations
• Franklin Johns – junior – Gordon, Neb. – physical education
• Brock Krueger – sophomore – Wessington Springs, S.D. – math education
• Grayson Madsen – junior – Rosholt, S.D. – exercise science
• Dawson Miller – junior – Mitchell, S.D. – cyber operations
• Mohamed Muse – sophomore – Sioux Fals, S.D. – cyber operations
• Tyler Nicke – junior – Hartington, Neb. – cyber operations
• Logan Recoy – sophomore – Arnold, Neb. – cyber operations
• Blake Schmiedt – senior – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – computer science
• Nolan Slominski – junior – Blair, Neb. – cyber operations
• Benjamin Strunk – sophomore – Hartford, S.D. – cyber operations
• Jonah Thiele – junior – Olathe, Kan. – computer science
• Jordan Upton – junior – Columbus, Ohio – exercise science
• Ben Witt – senior – Burke, S.D. – exercise science

 
Women's Track & Field

• Bridget Bartling – junior – Burke, S.D. – exercise science
• Brooke Beaucaire – senior – Beaumont, Calif. – cyber leadership/intelligence
• Ella Carstensen – sophomore – Hudson, Wis. – exercise science
• Valerija Curikova – junior – Riga, Latvia – cyber operations
• Caitlin Dyer – senior – Morphettville, South Australia – physical education
• Alyssa Koffler – junior – Buffalo Gap, S.D. – business administration
• Averie Marshall – sophomore – Timber Lake, S.D. – computer science
• Bella Maxwell – junior – Madison, S.D. – cyber operations
• McKenna McIlravy – junior – Philip, S.D. – digital arts and design
• Kierra Miller – junior – Hemingford, Neb. – integrated biology
• Casey Olson – senior – Fergus Falls, Minn. – professional accountancy
• Lindsey Roth – senior – Parkston, S.D. – elementary education
• Anna Schneider – junior – Sioux Falls, S.D. – professional accountancy
• Amelie Steins – junior – Dusseldorf, Germany – integrated biology
• Molli Thornton – junior – Hartford, S.D. – integrated biology
• Oliviyah Thornton – junior – Garretson, S.D. – cyber leadership/intelligence
• RayLee Wallis – senior – Roseville, Minn. – cyber operations
• Presli White – sophomore – Sioux Falls, S.D. – exercise science
• Sheridyn Winter – sophomore – Sioux Falls, S.D. – business management

 
Baseball

• Aiden Barfuss – sophomore – Winner, S.D. – math
• Braylon Bear – sophomore – Sioux Falls, S.D. – computer science
• Cameron DeMaria – senior – Fresno, Calif. – business management
• Hunter Den Boer – sophomore – Sioux Falls, S.D. – finance
• Cole Drumheller – senior – Papillion, Neb. – computer science
• Camaron Haller – senior – Kingman, Ariz. – math information systems
• Kellan Johns – junior – Everett, Wash. – physical education
• Declyn Otte – sophomore – Calhoun, Neb. – computer science

 
Softball

• Maycee Bricker – senior – Broomfield, Colo. – biology
• Katie Hanson – senior – Garretson, S.D. – elementary education
• Alexia Hayden – sophomore – Sabetha, Kan. – elementary education
• Makenna McGee – sophomore – Fremont, Neb. – exercise science
• Ally Morrissey – junior – Sacramento, Calif. – professional accountancy