KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) officially revealed its NAIA Scholar-Athletes for the 2026 spring sports calendar on Wednesday. According to the release from the national office, 51 Montreat College student-athletes across 10 programs brought home the annual academic recognition.
 
Women's track & field led all spring Cavalier athletic programs with 12 honorees, while softball followed closely behind at 11 Scholar-Athlete nods. Baseball paced the men's spring sports teams with nine individuals receiving the yearly academic status.
 
To be eligible for nomination as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, a student-athlete must appear on the eligibility certificate of his or her sport and have attended his or her current institution for at least one full calendar year.
 
View the complete list of Montreat College spring sports honorees below.
 
Baseball (9)
Justin Austin
Dawson Bryant
Hunter Furches
Zachary Long
Devon Smith
Robert Aalbue
Nathan Betancourt
Isaiah Galindo
Stephen Stroupe
 
Men's Golf (2)
Austin Lineberger
Alex Murphy
 
Women's Golf (3)
Abbey Coyle
Sara Rothrock
Hannah Stewart
 
Men's Lacrosse (2)
Carson Bowser
Garrett Thomson
 
Women's Lacrosse (3)
Ruthann Stout
Anna White
Grace Wiegand
 
Softball (11)
Kenzie Asby
Lauryn Bishop
Tinley Clark
Sarah Forbes
Nikki Galloway
Hannah Henderson
Makenna Kircus
Marley Ruth Metcalf
Bella Rodriguez
Kylee Schendel
Lacey Starnes
 
Men's Tennis (2)
Nick Abramov
Ben Smith
 
Women's Tennis (1)
Clara Roman
 
Men's Track & Field (6)
Mark Blalock
Jackson Mace-Maynard
Cameron Rice
Philip Riddle
Hunter Smathers
Ryan Stade
 
Women's Track & Field (12)
Izzi Ackerman
Aubrey Bahner
Emma Barnes
Anna Baugh
Carlyn Bobo
Kaylene Manternach
Heather Murphy
Natalia Nieto
Lydia Norman
Macy Parks
Naomi Smith
Ragan Speer