KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NAIA announced all recipients of scholar-athlete distinction for the 2025-26 spring season, which includes 31 total student-athletes from Dakota Wesleyan University.
To qualify as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (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. Dakota Wesleyan had the most representation from baseball with 13 members named as scholar-athletes, and all DWU spring sports contributed to the GPAC's 683 total honorees, making it the second-most represented conference in the NAIA on the list.
Athletic Director Ross Cimpl noted both the high level of competition within DWU's spring sport program and how they have been able to balance all aspects of being student-athletes.
"We are proud to have 41 of our student-athletes recognized for their efforts in the classroom and in competition this spring season. With the Midwest weather making schedules for all of our spring sports more fluid than the fall or winter, these athletes have to be able to adjust on the fly while still balancing every other aspect of being a student-athlete here at Dakota Wesleyan, and this achievement is proof that their efforts have paid off."
The full Dakota Wesleyan University Spring 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athlete list is as follows.
Baseball NAIA Scholar-Athletes: Alden Barrett, Carson Drexler, Colton Padgett, Dakota Munger, Daniel Collins, Dexter Payne, Haylon Heiting, Jaxon Christensen, Landon Ruesink, Nate Meyers, Nate Nuisken, Shane Cowan, Tyler Ott
Softball NAIA Scholar-Athletes: Alessandra Ciurca, Ashlen Johnson, Avery Perkins, Baylee Brown, Elle Feser, Ivy Woolwine, Jordyn Blogg, Kassidy Lopez, Keirstyn Krcil, Liliana Arreola, Macy Moore
Men's & Women's Track & Field NAIA Scholar-Athletes: Carter Harris, Gage Dietterle, Max Raab, Quenton Walls, Sean DeBlieck, Trevor Sladky, Will Prunty, Dani Deffenbaugh, Hailey Oswald, Stacy Ruelas-Hertz, Taliyah Hayes
Men's & Women's Golf NAIA Scholar-Athletes: Dakota Munger, Allison Meyerink, Dakotah Larson, Jaida Young, Sara Sudenga, Tessa Bulson
DWU's scholar-athletes were among nearly 5,000 awarded for the spring 2026 season. You can read the NAIA's full release here.