31 Phoenix Earn NAIA Scholar-Athlete Honors for Winter 2026

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University continued its tradition of academic excellence during the winter season as 31 Phoenix student-athletes were named 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, the national office announced Tuesday.

The NAIA Scholar-Athlete distinction is one of the association's highest academic honors, recognizing student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom while competing in winter championship sports, including basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, swimming & diving and wrestling.

To qualify as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, student-athletes must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended their institution for at least one full year.

Nationally, 3,143 student-athletes earned recognition across the NAIA's winter sports. Women's basketball led all sports with 926 honorees, followed by men's basketball (659) and men's wrestling (265). The Heart of America Athletic Conference paced all leagues with 401 scholar-athletes.

Cumberland's 31 honorees represented five winter programs, highlighted by wrestling with 11 selections. Men's basketball added six, women's basketball placed four on the list, men's bowling featured five honorees, women's bowling contributed four, and competitive cheer rounded out the group with one selection.

Cumberland University Winter 2025-2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes

Name	Class	Sport
Kathleen Schraer	Junior	Women's Bowling
Gracie Connelly	Senior	Women's Bowling
Carlie Semrau	Senior	Women's Bowling
Madison Clayton	Senior	Women's Bowling
Carter Baylog	Senior	Men's Bowling
Ethan Baird	Graduate	Men's Bowling
Braxton Dedmon	Sophomore	Men's Bowling
Konner Russell	Senior	Men's Bowling
Jared Maldonado	Senior	Men's Bowling
Elijah Griffin	Graduate	Wrestling
Joe Parisi	Senior	Wrestling
Tyler Rowland	Senior	Wrestling
Aiden Howard	Junior	Wrestling
Rocco Horvath	Senior	Wrestling
Sammy Shires	Senior	Wrestling
Ethan Gomez	Senior	Wrestling
Victor Guzman	Graduate	Wrestling
Jacob Barlow	Sophomore	Wrestling
Ryan Stein	Senior	Wrestling
Bentley Ellison	Junior	Wrestling
Grayson Galentine	Junior	Men's Basketball
Nick Brunetti	Sophomore	Men's Basketball
Landen Engles	Junior	Men's Basketball
Cooper Abner	Sophomore	Men's Basketball
Riggs Abner	Senior	Men's Basketball
Donovan James	Sophomore	Men's Basketball
Maddie Brillhart	Senior	Women's Basketball
Jordan Green	Senior	Women's Basketball
Faith Colston	Junior	Women's Basketball
Madison Luoma	Sophomore	Women's Basketball
Aubrey Dorris	Sophomore	Competitive Cheer