University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Northern Colorado Places 69 on Fall Big Sky All-Academic Team
1/30/2025 12:05:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball
FARMINGTON, Utah – A total of 69 Northern Colorado athletes were named to the 2024 Big Sky Fall All-Academic Team, the conference announced on Thursday.
That number represents a considerable improvement of 16 over last year's total of 52 student-athletes earning the recognition on the league's Fall All-Academic Team.
The 2024 BSC All-Academic Team includes the sports of volleyball, soccer, cross country, and football. It is based on grades from the 2024 Fall term.
UNC Football produced 26 honorees this year, a significant increase from last year's total of 15.
Soccer, meanwhile, put 20 on the list, followed by volleyball with 11, women's cross country with seven, and men's cross country with five.
"I am really proud of these student-athletes and how hard they work in the classroom and in their sport," said Director of Athletics Darren Dunn, "they are great representatives of UNC athletics and our community. We all should be proud of these true student-athletes."
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have met and/or exceeded the following minimum requirements: 1) Participated in at least half of the team's competitions; 2) Achieved a 3.2 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at the conclusion of the most recently completed term; 3) Completed at least one academic term at his/her current Big Sky institution.
For cross country student-athletes, they must have participated in at least half of the team's competitions or competed at the conference championship.
2024 Big Sky Fall All-Academic Team
Men's Cross Country (5)
Cale Schafer - Sr. - M.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Colton Magnuson - Sr. - B.S. Business Administration
Isaac Rascon - Sr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Benjamin Whitson - So. - B.S. Business Administration
Nathan Plant - Sr. - B.A. Economics
Women's Cross Country (7)
Summer Olson - Sr. - M.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Shantell Hafner - Sr - B.S. Elementary Education
Chloe Rylance - Sr. - B.S. Biological Sciences
Emily Beckner - Jr. - B.A. English Secondary Education
Claire Nowels - So - B.A. Elementary Education
Brooke Elfert - So. - B.S.N. Nursing
Julia Thigpen - Sr. - M.P.H. Public Health
Football (26)
Ryan Capasso - Gr. - M.S. Business Administration
Keyvon Lakes - Gr. - M.A. Sport Coaching
River Stout - RSr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Keenan Guthrie - RSr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Micah Nanninga - RSr. - B.A. Economics
Aidan Moe - RJr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Marcus Howard - RJr. - B.A. Communication Studies
Hunter Green - RJr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Isaias Sierra - Gr. - M.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Cash Cheeks - 5th year - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Ezra Ekuban - RJr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
David Afari - Gr. - M.B.A. Business Administration
KJ Smedley - Jr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Jack Ziebell - Jr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Brody Bliek - Jr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Zach Nowatzke - RSr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Levi Johnson - Jr. - B.S. Physics
Dominic Butts - Jr. - B.S. Business Administration
Darrell Bryant Jr. - Jr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Cam Chapa - So. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Zach Pekarek - RJr. - B.S. Business Administration
Kia'i Keone - Gr. - M.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Ryder MacGillivray - RSr. - B.A. Sociology
Liam Huber - Gr. - B.S. Human Services
Vann Schield - RSr. - B.S. Business Administration
Justin Guin - Sr. - B.A. Economics
Soccer (20)
Melina Faris - Gr. - M.B.S. Biomedical Science
Kaya Lindberg - Jr. - B.A. History
Morgan King - GRr. - M.S. Athletic Training
Ashley Hillman - Sr. - B.S. Business Administration
Rachel Mortensen - Sr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Sydney Engelkins - Sr. - B.S. Business Administration
Riley Schneider - Jr. - B.A. Sociology
Riley Kaali-Nagy - Jr. - B.A. Psychology
Brooke Holmberg - Jr. - B.A. Elementary Education
Taryn Rea - Jr. - B.A. Communication Studies
Lauren Fuller - Sr. - B.S. Business Administration
Francesca Jordan - So. - B.S. Sport & Exercise Science
Mia Norman - So. - B.S. Sport & Exercise Science
Anneliese Wong - So. - B.S. Biological Sciences
Esja Moore - So. - B.S.N. Nursing
Lexi Tuite - So. - B.S. Business Administration
Sunnie Yarnell - Fr. - B.A. Psychology
Lauryn Maggio - Fr. - B.S. Sport & Exercise Science
Samantha Carter - Fr. - B.S. Biological Sciences
Preslie Young - Fr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Volleyball (11)
Syd Cole - Gr. - M.A.T Education
Annette Baker - Sr. - B.A. Criminology & Criminal Justice
Maddie Davies - Sr. - B.S. Nutrition
Brynn Reines - Jr. - B.S. Sport & Exercise Science
Mia Liddiard - Jr. - B.S. Business Administration
Bella LePore - So. - B.S. Business Administration
Alayna Tessena - RFr. - B.A. Elementary Education
Gabi Placide - So. - B.S. Business Administration
Finley Schelhaas - Fr. - B.S. Biological Sciences
GA McCarter - Jr. - B.S. Dietetics
Sam Steele - Gr. - M.S. Sport & Exercise Science
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com.
That number represents a considerable improvement of 16 over last year's total of 52 student-athletes earning the recognition on the league's Fall All-Academic Team.
The 2024 BSC All-Academic Team includes the sports of volleyball, soccer, cross country, and football. It is based on grades from the 2024 Fall term.
UNC Football produced 26 honorees this year, a significant increase from last year's total of 15.
Soccer, meanwhile, put 20 on the list, followed by volleyball with 11, women's cross country with seven, and men's cross country with five.
"I am really proud of these student-athletes and how hard they work in the classroom and in their sport," said Director of Athletics Darren Dunn, "they are great representatives of UNC athletics and our community. We all should be proud of these true student-athletes."
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have met and/or exceeded the following minimum requirements: 1) Participated in at least half of the team's competitions; 2) Achieved a 3.2 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at the conclusion of the most recently completed term; 3) Completed at least one academic term at his/her current Big Sky institution.
For cross country student-athletes, they must have participated in at least half of the team's competitions or competed at the conference championship.
2024 Big Sky Fall All-Academic Team
Men's Cross Country (5)
Cale Schafer - Sr. - M.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Colton Magnuson - Sr. - B.S. Business Administration
Isaac Rascon - Sr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Benjamin Whitson - So. - B.S. Business Administration
Nathan Plant - Sr. - B.A. Economics
Women's Cross Country (7)
Summer Olson - Sr. - M.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Shantell Hafner - Sr - B.S. Elementary Education
Chloe Rylance - Sr. - B.S. Biological Sciences
Emily Beckner - Jr. - B.A. English Secondary Education
Claire Nowels - So - B.A. Elementary Education
Brooke Elfert - So. - B.S.N. Nursing
Julia Thigpen - Sr. - M.P.H. Public Health
Football (26)
Ryan Capasso - Gr. - M.S. Business Administration
Keyvon Lakes - Gr. - M.A. Sport Coaching
River Stout - RSr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Keenan Guthrie - RSr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Micah Nanninga - RSr. - B.A. Economics
Aidan Moe - RJr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Marcus Howard - RJr. - B.A. Communication Studies
Hunter Green - RJr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Isaias Sierra - Gr. - M.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Cash Cheeks - 5th year - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Ezra Ekuban - RJr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
David Afari - Gr. - M.B.A. Business Administration
KJ Smedley - Jr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Jack Ziebell - Jr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Brody Bliek - Jr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Zach Nowatzke - RSr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Levi Johnson - Jr. - B.S. Physics
Dominic Butts - Jr. - B.S. Business Administration
Darrell Bryant Jr. - Jr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Cam Chapa - So. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Zach Pekarek - RJr. - B.S. Business Administration
Kia'i Keone - Gr. - M.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Ryder MacGillivray - RSr. - B.A. Sociology
Liam Huber - Gr. - B.S. Human Services
Vann Schield - RSr. - B.S. Business Administration
Justin Guin - Sr. - B.A. Economics
Soccer (20)
Melina Faris - Gr. - M.B.S. Biomedical Science
Kaya Lindberg - Jr. - B.A. History
Morgan King - GRr. - M.S. Athletic Training
Ashley Hillman - Sr. - B.S. Business Administration
Rachel Mortensen - Sr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Sydney Engelkins - Sr. - B.S. Business Administration
Riley Schneider - Jr. - B.A. Sociology
Riley Kaali-Nagy - Jr. - B.A. Psychology
Brooke Holmberg - Jr. - B.A. Elementary Education
Taryn Rea - Jr. - B.A. Communication Studies
Lauren Fuller - Sr. - B.S. Business Administration
Francesca Jordan - So. - B.S. Sport & Exercise Science
Mia Norman - So. - B.S. Sport & Exercise Science
Anneliese Wong - So. - B.S. Biological Sciences
Esja Moore - So. - B.S.N. Nursing
Lexi Tuite - So. - B.S. Business Administration
Sunnie Yarnell - Fr. - B.A. Psychology
Lauryn Maggio - Fr. - B.S. Sport & Exercise Science
Samantha Carter - Fr. - B.S. Biological Sciences
Preslie Young - Fr. - B.S. Sport and Exercise Science
Volleyball (11)
Syd Cole - Gr. - M.A.T Education
Annette Baker - Sr. - B.A. Criminology & Criminal Justice
Maddie Davies - Sr. - B.S. Nutrition
Brynn Reines - Jr. - B.S. Sport & Exercise Science
Mia Liddiard - Jr. - B.S. Business Administration
Bella LePore - So. - B.S. Business Administration
Alayna Tessena - RFr. - B.A. Elementary Education
Gabi Placide - So. - B.S. Business Administration
Finley Schelhaas - Fr. - B.S. Biological Sciences
GA McCarter - Jr. - B.S. Dietetics
Sam Steele - Gr. - M.S. Sport & Exercise Science
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Cross Country
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
D
/ Women's Soccer
TE
/ Football
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DL
/ Football
/ Women's Cross Country
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football/ Women's Cross Country
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
QB
/ Football
M
/ Women's SoccerLB
/ Football
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
G
/ Women's Soccer
WR
/ Football
D
/ Women's Soccer
/ Men's Cross Country
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
OL
/ Football
D
/ Women's Soccer
LB
/ Football
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
DB
/ Football
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
OH
/ Women's Volleyball/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
RB
/ Football
D
/ Women's Soccer
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
WR
/ Football
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Cross Country
F
/ Women's Soccer
/ Men's Cross Country
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
OL
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