NJCAA tabs all six MCC teams for All-Academic honors

All six McCook Community College athletic teams have been recognized by the National Junior College Athletic Association with All-Academic recognition for team grade-point averages higher than 3.0. In addition, 38 student athletes were selected for individual academic achievements and 58 were named to the Region IX 2025-2026 All-Academic men’s and women’s teams.

“I’m really proud of our group as a whole,” said MCC Athletic Director Jon Olsen. “I believe this is the first time since they started recognizing team GPA's nationally that all six of our athletic teams have been recognized with the team award, that is something to feel really good about as a department.” 

Eleven MCC student athletes were named to the All-Academic first team with 4.0 GPAs, 14 more were named to the second team (3.80-3.99) and 13 received third-team status (3.60-3.79). A breakdown by sport shows MCC softball led the way with 11 players, volleyball and baseball tied for nine each, women’s basketball placed six on the team and men’s basketball had three players.

“Obviously individually we had a lot of very dedicated student athletes in the classroom, and it is great for them to be recognized as well,” said Olsen. 

To achieve a designation from the NJCAA as an “Academic Team of the Year,” the team must achieve a collective grade point average higher than 3.0.

The MCC volleyball team led the way with a composite GPA of 3.62, softball was second at 3.46, the women’s basketball team compiled a team GPA of 3.33. Baseball led the men’s ledger with a 3.23 GPA, men’s golf had a 3.06 and the men’s basketball team had a 3.01 GPA. MCC’s official roster numbers for these six programs totaled 113.

In addition to the NJCAA awards, 58 MCC student-athletes were named to the 2025-2026 Academic All-Region IX men’s and women’s teams. For this designation student athletes must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours and earn GPA’s greater than 3.25. There were 36 female student athletes on this list and 22 male student athletes

“These academic honors are a great testament to everyone on campus from coaches to faculty, staff and all the people that support our students, they all play a vital role in this success,” said Olsen. 

Here is a list of those named to a 2025-26 NJCAA All-Academic Team for achieving a GPA of 3.6 or higher are:

NJCAA All-Academic First Team: 4.0 GPA

• Paulina Fister, sophomore, volleyball
• Carolina Garcia Perdomo, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Santiago Joaquin Rodriguez, freshman, baseball
• Zoe Mullholland, freshman, volleyball
• Olivia Pollen, sophomore, softball
• Anna Richardson, freshman, volleyball
• Charlee Russick, sophomore, volleyball
• Hallie Schneider, freshman, softball
• Hannah Schneider, freshman, softball
• Miriam Wahlqvist, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Hayley Smith, freshman, softball

NJCAA All-Academic Second Team: 3.80-3.99 GPA

• Connor Charvat, sophomore, baseball
• Djibril Diawara, freshman, men’s basketball
• Johanna Gerlach, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Paige Leggett, freshman, softball
• Mar Molina Munoz, freshman, women’s basketball
• Olivia Moorhead, sophomore, softball
• Tyler Parent, freshman, baseball
• Audrey Reeves, sophomore, softball
• Tyler Reyburn, sophomore, baseball
• Allie Rohde, freshman, volleyball
• Chase Williams, sophomore, baseball
• Miah Wren, freshman, women’s basketball
• Josie Wright, freshman, softball
• Leia Young, freshman, volleyball

NJCAA All-Academic Third Team: 3.60-3.79 GPA

• Tait Anderson, sophomore, baseball
• Vladimir Brkovic, sophomore, men’s basketball
• Jeff Bullock, sophomore, baseball
• Malia Hilker, freshman, softball
• Audrey Holm, sophomore, volleyball
• Timothy Hunt, freshman, baseball
• Jacelyn Jorgensen, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Lyndsay Keogh, freshman, softball
• Tatum Ross Maxwell, freshman, softball
• Landree McNair, freshman, volleyball
• Mason Regan, sophomore, baseball
• Owen Stack, freshman, men’s basketball
• Bobbie Starkebaum, freshman, volleyball 

To view a full list of all student-athlete award winners, visit: NJCAA All-Academic Awards.

NJCAA TEAMS OF THE YEAR DESIGNATION: TEAM GPA HIGHER THAN 3.0

• MCC Volleyball, 3.62
• MCC Softball, 3.46
• MCC Women’s Basketball 3.33
• MCC Baseball, 3.23
• MCC Men’s Golf, 3.06
• MCC Men’s Basketball, 3.01

REGION IX WOMEN’S 2025-2026 ALL-ACADEMIC (Higher than 3.25 GPA)

• Women’s Basketball: Johanna Gerlach, Jacelyn Jorgensen, Marissa Evans, Carolina Garcia Perdomo, Laia Izquierdo Altimira, Mar Molina Munoz, Miah Wren and Miriam Serafia Wahlqvist.
• Softball: Kashlin Beck, Brooklynn Gillen, Malia Hilker, Lyndsay Keogh, Paige Leggett, Tatum Ross Maxwell, Marleigh Mitchell, Olivia Moorhead, Olivia Pollen, Audrey Reeves, Hallie Schneider, Hannah Schneider, Hayley Smith, Paige Warren and Josie Wright.
• Volleyball: Shana Muller, Zoe Mullholland, Landree McNair, Audrey Holm, Stefany Garcia, Paulina Fister, Libby Cole, Anna Richardson, Allie Rhode, Charlie Russick, Bobbi Starkebaum, Peighton Swanson and Leia Young.

REGION IX MEN’S 2025-2026 ALL-ACADEMIC (Higher than 3.25 GPA):

• Baseball: Connor Charvat, Owen Weales, Santiago Rodriguez, Tyler Reyburn, Tyler Parent, Timothy Hunt, Tait Anderson, Kon Yoshimura, Mason Regan, Lucas Munns, Kayden Frizzell, Kieren Cutler, Matthew Botticelli, Colby Kaplan, Ben Heathcock and Chaise Chabi.
• Men’s Basketball: Sofian Benragba, Vladimir Brkovic, Djibril Diawara, Owen Stack.
• Men’s Golf: Tzu-Hsun Yin, Joackym Mahy.