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17 CMU Student-Athletes Honored as Academic All-Americans

Athletes who excel in their sport are remarkable, but when academic excellence combines with athletic talent, something impressive happens. Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is proud to announce that 17 student-athletes have been selected as Academic All-Americans, leading CMU to tie for the most All-Americans this year.  

Since the award’s inception in 1952, CMU has had 149 student-athletes selected for this prestigious title. Although over 70 years have passed since the start of the Academic All-America Award, the criteria has not wavered.  

Students must demonstrate a commitment to their class work, while also performing at a high level in their chosen sport. Not only does the Academic All-America award recognize these achievements, but the CMU Foundation donors also do. Many generous supporters understand the hard work that it takes to excel academically and athletically and see it only fitting to commend those efforts through scholarship awards.  

Another exciting highlight for CMU was having softball player, Ally Distler, not only achieve First Team Academic All-American, but also receive Team Member of the Year.

 Listed below are CMU honorees for the 2024-25 school year.

 First Team:  

  • Ally Distler – Softball
    Team Member of the Year
  • Cole Beyer – Men’s At-Large, Golf
    Cullen R. Brown Endowed Scholarship Recipient
    Ronald V. Davis Legacy Scholar
    Forrect Nelson Geology Scholarship Recipient
  • Dejan Urbanek – Men’s Swimming & Diving
    USA Swim Maverick Aquatics Scholarship Recipient
  • Justine Anderson – Women’s At-Large, Lacrosse
  • Olivia Reed Thyne – Women’s Basketball
    Brownson Memorial Scholarship Recipient
    Prospace Interiors Women’s Basketball Scholarship Recipient
    Lonnie Shults Endowed Women’s Basketball Scholarship Recipient
    Bob and Jane Quimby Memorial Scholarship Recipient
  • Sabrina VanDeList – Volleyball
    Rusty Crick Women’s Volleyball Scholarship Recipient
  • Sophia Bains – Women’s Swimming & Diving
    Bill and Peggy Foster Endowed Scholarship Recipient
    Locke Academic Scholarship Recipient 
Second Team:  
  • Ada Qunell – Women’s Swimming & Diving
  • Gavin Anderson – Men’s Swimming & Diving
  • Kash Bradley – Football
    Brownson Memorial Scholarship Recipient
  • Keely Wieczorek – Soccer
  • Kiara Borchardt – Women’s Swimming & Diving
Third Team:   
  • Abby Fotheringham – Women’s Soccer
    Ronald V. Davis Legacy Scholar
  • Austin Patterson – Men’s Swimming & Diving
  • Charlie Smith – Football
    Mark Miller Endowment Scholar
  • Jacob Troescher – Men’s Swimming & Diving
  • Kenya Meyer – Women’s Swimming & Diving
    Women’s Diving Endowment Recipient

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Written by Abby Melnikoff