WALESKA, Ga. — The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) shared its All-Academic Team and Champions of Character Team honorees for the 2026 men's and women's track & field seasons on Thursday afternoon, and according to the release, 24 Montreat College student-athletes seized the annual academic recognition.
On the women's side, 16 Cavaliers appeared on the AAC All-Academic Team:
Izzi Ackerman,
Aubrey Bahner,
Emma Barnes,
Anna Baugh,
Carlyn Bobo,
Shelby Brown,
Rosa Derstine,
Elena Fibraio,
Kaylene Manternach,
Heather Murphy,
Eliza Nelson,
Natalia Nieto,
Lydia Norman,
Macy Parks,
Naomi Smith and
Ragan Speer. Meanwhile, eight gentlemen represented the Cavs on the All-Academic Team:
Mark Blalock,
Brock Lauer,
Jackson Mace-Maynard,
Cameron Rice,
Philip Riddle,
Hunter Smathers,
Ryan Stade and
Ronald Way.
Both Ackerman and
Elijah Eppley picked up AAC Champions of Character Team status in 2026.
To qualify for the AAC All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. Each institution in the league also received one spot on the AAC Champions of Character Team, and the honorees were selected by each program's head coach.
For a look at the 2026 AAC Men's and Women's Track & Field All-Academic Teams and Champions of Character Teams, click
here.
The Montreat College men's track & field team finished runner-up out of 11 squads at the AAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, as well as third out of 12 programs at the AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Meanwhile, the Montreat College women's track & field team placed third of 12 at the league's indoor meet and fourth of 13 at the conference's outdoor meet.
