NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Northern Michigan University Track and Field team has been named a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) 2026 All-Academic Team, the organization announced.

The cumulative team GPA for all student-athletes must be 3.0 or higher to qualify. The Wildcats held an outstanding GPA of 3.45 and have now been honored in each of Jenny Ryan's 12 seasons at the helm. 

In addition, Ashley Choponis (Biology), Ella DeBruyn (Sustainable Business/Enterprise Creation), Beverly Harper (Health and PE/Secondary Education), Danielle Lund (Cognitive Impairment/Elementary Education), Sophia Potter (Political Science), and Madi Szymanski (Nursing) earned individual recognition for the Wildcats. 

Criteria to be named an NCAA Division II All-Academic Athlete: 

1. Minimum cumulative grade point average of a 3.25 on a 4.0 scale through the end of the semester of competition. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0]. Data must be certifiable by the institution's registrar.
2. Must have been academically eligible at the National Championships in the respective season that his or her athletic mark was achieved in.
3. Must have finished the season among the top 50 individuals as listed on the descending order lists on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 50, but who participated at the Indoor OR Outdoor National Championships, are eligible.
4. Must have competed as a member of one of the top 35 relay teams as listed on the descending order list on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 35 relay teams, but who participated in the relay at the Indoor OR Outdoor National Championships, are eligible. Finally, any competing relay team member on an expanded descending order list to include 35 institutions (1 relay team per institution) is eligible.
5. Transfer students and/or graduate students are to include only grades earned at the current nominating institution.

The full release from the USTFCCCA can be found here.