NAIA Announces Scholar Athletes for Spring Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for the Mount Vernon Nazarene University spring sports. 

Baseball: Grant Peters (Sophomore), Connor Estep (Sophomore), Caden Conn (Sophomore), Kaid Carpenter (Junior), Ryan Willoughby (Junior), Brady Lester (Junior), and Jared Hurlburt (Senior) 

Men's Golf: Carter Hancock (Sophomore), William Streby (Sophomore), Owen Young (Sophomore), Luke Walton (Sophomore), Jack Mayle (Sophomore), Isaac Vance (Junior), Isaac Gessner (Junior), Logan Thompson (Junior), and Hunter Smith (Graduate Student) 

Men's Lacrosse: William Gee (Sophomore), Dillon Hittle (Junior), Ethan Haney (Junior), and Carson Steinmetz (Junior) 

Men's Tennis: Ryan Almodovar (Sophomore) and Noah Hill (Senior) 

Men's Track and Field: Samuel Haley (Sophomore), Reed Johnson (Sophomore), Marshall Carr (Sophomore), Jackson Loyd (Sophomore), Owen Rair (Junior), Mason Summers (Junior), Griffin Flusche (Junior), Evan Hodkinson (Senior), Mason Hendrickson (Senior), Alex Hayden (Senior), Tyler Shipley (Senior), and Seth McCloskey (Senior) 

Men's Volleyball: Josiah Pletcher (Sophomore), Tyler Monnin (Junior), Austin Kolaczkowski (Junior), Bradley DeVault (Junior), and Jackson Bush (Senior) 

Softball: Camden Laymon (Sophomore), Skylar Zimmerman (Sophomore), Shanda Melick (Junior), Avery Miller (Senior), and Brooklyn Krum (Senior), 

Women's Golf: Ryan Satterfield (Sophomore) and Mary Weisburn (Graduate Student) 

Women's Tennis: Maria Cottenden (Sophomore), Alanna Reyes (Sophomore), Andrea Green (Sophomore), and Deah Bresson (Junior), 

Women's Track and Field: Maddy Lengacher (Sophomore), Louisa Hallabrin (Junior), Kate Ruffle (Sophomore), Nevaeh Williams (Junior), Janelle Gehman (Junior), and Raelyn Barrett (Senior) 

Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on the 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended MVNU for at least one full year to qualify as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete. 

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,200 students from 36 states, 1 U.S. commonwealth and 41 foreign countries.