Softball | 5/26/2026 1:00:00 PM
Record 42 Empire 8 Student-Athletes from all twelve institutions were selected to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Softball NCAA Division III Team, which recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom.
The 2026 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. In order to be eligible for both All-District and All-American consideration, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically, hold a 3.30 cumulative GPA or above and be a starter or important reserve for their respective teams.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on June 16. The CSC Academic All-District® teams include the student-athletes listed on the following pages.
Below are the Empire 8 selections.
ALFRED UNIVERSITY
Kendall Steward, Jr., P, Kennedy, NY - Biomaterials Engineering
Brielle Wark, Sr., OF, East Amherst, NY - Mathematics
Molly Whitmyer, Jr., UT, Enola, PA - English
SUNY BROCKPORT
Caitlyn Dailey, Sr., INF, Goshen, NY
Julia Hill, Gr., INF/OF, Dunkirk, NY
Paige Wentland, Jr., 1B/OF, Depew, NY
ELMIRA COLLEGE
Kristen Cole, Jr., 1B/OF, Horseheads, NY
Hannah Colwill, Jr., OF, Averill Park, NY - Nursing
Teona Cruz, Jr., INF, Penfield, NY
SUNY GENESEO
Lauren Babich, Jr., 1B/3B, Glen Cove, NY - Biology
Gabriella Petroski, Jr., P/1B, Lancaster, NY - Biology
Ray Schumacher, Jr., 3B/UT, Greece, NY - Sustainability Studies, Geology & Public Administration
Emily Sylvanus, Sr., OF, Northport, NY
HARTWICK COLLEGE
Ashlee Stevens, Jr., P/UT, Knox, NY - Nursing
HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY
Kelley Burnett, So., C/UT, Canandaigua, NY - Biology - Pre Veterinary
Rebecca Oates, So., P/OF, Tonawanda, NY - Inclusive Childhood Education
Kareena Ulfig, Sr., P/UTL, Elkhart, IN - Psychology and Communication
KEUKA COLLEGE
Grace Eagen, Sr., 1B, Buffalo, NY - Psychology
Olivia Flynn, Sr., UT, Williamson, NY - Nursing
Hailey Jasinski, Jr., SS, Buffalo, NY - Occupational Therapy
Alexis Kopetchny, Sr., C, Phelps, NY - Adolescent Mathematics Education
Katie Landers, Jr., INF, Batavia, NY - Psychology
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY
Ashley Bell, Sr., P/INF, Groton, NY - Occupational Therapy
Madison Hicks, So., P/INF, Webster, NY - Social Work
Haleigh Suitor, Jr., OF, North Tonawanda, NY - Occupational Therapy
SUNY POLY
Katelyn Adams, Sr., INF, Croghan, NY
Ava Faragon, Sr., OF, Poestenkill, NY - Nursing
Kelly Powell, Jr., OF, Clifton Park, NY
Alivia Turk, Gr., OF, Williamstown, NY
Joely Welpe, Sr., C/INF, Utica, NY
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE
Katie Call, Jr., C/INF, Antwerp, NY - Physical Education
Bailey Catlin, Sr., P, Petersburgh, NY - Childhood Education/Early Childhood Education/Special Education
Emily O'Keefe, Jr., OF, Albany, NY - Nursing
Annabella Putnam, Gr., P, Prattsburgh, NY - Nutrition Dietetics
*Annalise Tyler, Jr., INF, Schenectady, NY - Nursing
ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY
CC Holmes, Jr., OF/P, Utica, NY - Early Childhood Education
Molly Kuhn, Jr., P, Lancaster, NY - Athletic Performance
*Taylor Shackleton, Jr., INF, Placentia, CA - Psychology/Criminal Justice
UTICA UNIVERSITY
Lily Mazur, So., OF, Rome, NY - Psychology
Meghan Paul, So., OF, Guilderland, NY - Nursing
Caroline Porter, So., P, Cittenango, NY - Occupational Therapy
Alexis Scott, So., UT, Binghamton, NY - Nursing
*Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America finalists are denoted with an asterisk; they will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office member.