Balancing training schedules, competition, and challenging coursework is no easy task, but 41 student-athletes from North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) have shown that excellence in both areas is possible. These Wildcats have been named to the 2024–2025 NJCAA All-Academic Teams, proving their dedication to achieving excellence both in the classroom and in their sport.
Adding to the honor, five NDSCS athletic programs—Baseball, Men’s Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, and Women’s Basketball—earned the prestigious NJCAA “Academic Team of the Year” award, showcasing their collective drive to achieve at the highest levels.
“These achievements are more than a reflection of GPA; they represent early mornings in the gym, late nights studying, and the discipline it takes to push through challenges,” said Reggie Jackson, NDSCS Athletic Director. “Our student-athletes represent what it means to be Wildcats: hardworking, focused, and determined to excel in every aspect of their lives.”
To earn NJCAA All-Academic recognition, student-athletes must achieve a GPA of 3.60 or higher for the academic year. The tiers of distinction include:
• First Team: 4.00 GPA
• Second Team: 3.80–3.99 GPA
• Third Team: 3.60–3.79 GPA
NJCAA All-Academic Individual Honors
The following NDSCS student-athletes have earned NJCAA All-Academic honors (listed by their team’s sport):
Baseball
• Masen Allmaras (2nd team)
• Skyler Fields (3rd team)
• Wrigley Gunderson (3rd team)
• Carter Maasjo (3rd team)
• Garrett Solberg (3rd team)
Football
• Alexander Henry (1st team)
• Raymond Ruschel (1st team)
• Logan Dockter (2nd team)
• Samuel Babinchak (3rd team)
• Leonel Chavez-Salas (3rd team)
• Makhi Jackson (3rd team)
• Malique Jackson (3rd team)
• Aaron Meier (3rd team)
Men’s Basketball
• Nidas Paulauskas (1st team)
• Riley Wolf (2nd team)
• Sebastian Mackey (3rd team)
• Alexander Troutman (3rd team)
Softball
• Rayelle Cooley (1st team)
• Ava Howard (1st team)
• Katie Olson (1st team)
• Caitlyn Dannenfelzer (2nd team)
• Grace Folkema (2nd team)
• Meridith Frey (2nd team)
• Blythe Proulx (3rd team)
• Heeley Taylor (3rd team)
Volleyball
• Kenzy Beare (1st team)
• Mya Boomsma (1st team)
• Sheridan Brown (1st team)
• Riyan Eckert (1st team)
• Abby Johnson (1st team)
• Keira Johnson (1st team)
• Lily Mathern (1st team)
• Kaylee Stegora (1st team)
• Quinn Kost (3rd team)
• Addison Twidwell (3rd team)
Women's Basketball
• Ezrah Baker (1st team)
• Peyton Gette (1st team)
• Ashleigh Kerr (1st team)
• Idi Martinez (1st team)
• Hailey Markel (3rd team)
• Maggie Westling (3rd team)
NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Awards
The following NDSCS teams have been recognized as NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year:
• Baseball - 3.27 team GPA
• Men’s Basketball – 3.17 team GPA
• Softball - 3.33 team GPA
• Volleyball - 3.71 team GPA
• Women's Basketball - 3.44 team GPA
Congratulations to all our Wildcat student-athletes and teams for raising the bar on and off the field.
Join us this fall as NDSCS athletics gear up for another exciting year, including the inaugural season of Women’s Soccer. Full schedules are available at NDSCSwildcats.com.