Five Mastodons Selected to #HLTF All-Academic Team; Six Honorable Mentions
3/19/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Track and Field, Men's Track and Field
The four Purdue Fort Wayne selections from the women's team tied Milwaukee for most this season, the two teams claimed half of the All-Academic Team. Youngstown State held nine of the total spots between both genders, leading the league.
A total of 34 Horizon League student-athletes were named to the All-Academic Teams and an additional 15 student-athletes were named Honorable Mentions in balloting by the League's faculty athletics representatives. To be eligible for Horizon League All-Academic consideration, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 or higher (based on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, having earned 24 semester-hour or 36 quarter-hour credits, and participate in 50 percent of the team's overall contests. An Honorable Mention is awarded to student-athletes who received at least 25 percent of votes, but did not make the All-Academic Team.
Women's Academic All-Horizon League
Bella Hodges (Sr. - Indianapolis)
GPA: 3.70 | Major: Biology
- Is a five-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Was the 800 meters runner-up at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Her time of 2:12.51 in Youngstown is the second fastest from league competitors this season and broke the school record.
- Took DMR runner-up in the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
Amelie Mach (So. - Des Plaines, Ill.)
GPA: 3.98 | Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Was a member of the Fall 2025 Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Is a member of the 4x400 meter relay champion team in the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Took DMR runner-up in the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Took seventh in the 60 meter hurdles at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
Riley Tate (Sr. - Columbus, Ohio)
GPA: 3.96 | Major: Computer Science
- Is a five-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Took third place in the mile (4:53.81) at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Was a member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Track & Field/Cross Country Team in both 2024 and 2025.
- Was a Purdue Fort Wayne Top 50 Student in 2025.
Ellie Zagel (Jr. - West Bend, Wis.)
GPA: 4.00 | Major: Psychology
- Is a three-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Was a member of the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Track & Field/Cross Country Team.
- Took fourth in the shot put at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Her mark of 13.95m meters in Youngstown is the fourth furthest from league competitors this season.
Men's Academic All-Horizon League
Jack Mills (Sr. - Columbia City)
GPA: 3.99 | Major: Actuarial Science
- Took DMR runner-up in the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Finished 10th on the year in Horizon League 800m competition, running a 1:54.15 at the Big Meet.
Women's Academic All-Horizon League Honorable Mention
Francesca Carlo (Sr. - Cleveland Heights, Ohio)
GPA: 3.98 | Major: Web Design
- Is a five-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Took sixth in the weight throw at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Her mark of 16.03 meters in Youngstown is the seventh furthest from league competitors this season.
- Finished 15th on the year in Horizon League shot put competition, throwing 11.96 meters at the Mrs. G Invitational.
Ali Sparks (Sr. - Fort Wayne, Ind.)
GPA: 3.57 | Major: Business Management
- Is a five-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Was runner-up in weight throw (18.09m) and third place in shot put (14.13m) at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Was named #HLTF Field Athlete of the Week on Feb. 3, 2026.
- Was a member of the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Track & Field/Cross Country Team.
Men's Academic All-Horizon League Honorable Mention
Colin Gasson (Sr. - Fort Loramie, Ohio)
GPA: 3.86 | Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Was a 2025 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field All-Academic Honorable Mention.
- Is a five-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Finished 30th on the year in Horizon League 800 meters competition, running a 1:57.87 at the Mastodon Invitational.
Colten Gasson (Sr. - Fort Loramie, Ohio)
GPA: 3.84 | Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Is a five-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Was a member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Track & Field/Cross Country Team in both 2024 and 2025.
- Took 20th in the 5000 meters (15:28.66) at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Finished 34th in the 3000 meters (8:57.89) at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
Boden Genovese (So. - Benton Harbor, Mich.)
GPA: 3.84 | Major: Undecided
- Was a member of the Fall 2025 Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Took eighth in the mile (4:14.05) at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
- Finished sixth on the year in Horizon League mile competition, running a 4:09.73 at the Meyo Invitational.
- Took DMR runner-up in the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
Owen Kaufman (Sr. - Mentor, Ohio)
GPA: 3.64 | Major: General Studies
- Was selected to the 2025 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field All-Academic Team.
- Is a five-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
- Was a member of the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Track & Field/Cross Country Team.
- Took sixth in the weight throw (16.61m) at the #HLTF Indoor Championships.
2026 Valeo Women's Indoor #HLTF All-Academic Team
Natalie Keller, Cleveland State
Jada Clark, Detroit Mercy
Isabel Roloff, Milwaukee
Anna Szepieniec, Milwaukee
Olivia VanZeeland, Milwaukee
Kallie Volk, Milwaukee
Olivia Kennedy, Northern Kentucky
Kylei Anderson, Oakland
Jamie Giese, Oakland
Bella Hodges, Purdue Fort Wayne
Amelie Mach, Purdue Fort Wayne
Riley Tate, Purdue Fort Wayne
Ellie Zagel, Purdue Fort Wayne
Julia Dill, Robert Morris
Samantha Hennen, Robert Morris
McKinley Fielding, Youngstown State
Ainsley Hamsher, Youngstown State
2026 Valeo Men's Indoor #HLTF All-Academic Team
Joshua Neary, Detroit Mercy
Joshua Otten, Detroit Mercy
Luke Shappell, IU Indianapolis
Jaydon Steidinger, IU Indianapolis
Cullen Boyle, Milwaukee
Karsten Grundahl, Milwaukee
Colton O'Hara, Northern Kentucky
Pierce Grzymkwoski, Oakland
Carter McCalister, Oakland
Jack Mills, Purdue Fort Wayne
Patrick Statzer, Wright State
Owen Brady, Youngstown State
Blaze Fichter, Youngstown State
Jaden Kirkwood, Youngstown State
Lukas Lang, Youngstown State
Jake McEntyre, Youngstown State
Trenton Shutters, Youngstown State
Ryan Tetrick, Youngstown State
Women's Honorable Mentions
Ella Colclesser, IU Indianapolis
Victoria Evtimov, Milwaukee
Angelica Refinski, Milwaukee
Cameron Bitterman, Northern Kentucky
Francesca Carlo, Purdue Fort Wayne
Ali Sparks, Purdue Fort Wayne
Kaitlyn Eger, Youngstown State
Men's Honorable Mentions
Riley Nixon, IU Indianapolis
Lucas Picco, Milwaukee
Zac Schmidt, Milwaukee
Tyler Donovan, Oakland
Colin Gasson, Purdue Fort Wayne
Colten Gasson, Purdue Fort Wayne
Boden Genovese, Purdue Fort Wayne
Owen Kaufman, Purdue Fort Wayne
Players Mentioned
