DALLAS – Conference USA has named 14 student-athletes to the 2025 CUSA Cross Country All-Academic Team, as voted on by academic advisors from each institution.
Liberty led the conference with four Flames earning All-Academic recognition. On the women’s side, the Lady Flames honorees included
Jessica Palisca (Interdisciplinary Studies: Physical Sciences and Natural Sciences, 4.0 GPA),
Katrina Schlenker (Aeronautics: Commercial /Corporate, 3.93 GPA) and
Allie Zealand (Civil Engineering, 3.79 GPA). Each of them was named Women’s First Team All-Conference after finishing within the top seven at the conference meet, with Allie Zealand finishing first overall. This is Schlenker’s second consecutive All-Academic honor for cross country.
For the men, Liberty’s
Ethan Pedersen (Biomedical Science, 3.95 GPA) picked up the honor. Pedersen finished the season Second Team All-Conference.
FIU, Jax State and UTEP each had two All-Academic honorees. For the Panthers,
Ania San Roman Lopez (Engineering, 3.97 GPA) and
Brad Malick-Beltran (Mechanical Engineering, 4.0 GPA) were recognized.
The Gamecocks recipients include
Rudi Barnette (General Science Education, 3.93 GPA) and
Mark Roper (Undecided Management, 3.90 GPA). Roper finished the season Third Team All-CUSA.
Representing UTEP are
Vallary Kiplagat (Nursing, 3.95 GPA) and
Juan Leal (Mechanical Engineering, 3.62 GPA).
Rounding out the All-Academic Team on the women’s side is New Mexico State’s
Amanda Radava (Kinesiology, 3.94 GPA). She finished this season Second Team All-CUSA.
On the men’s side, the remaining honorees include Kennesaw State’s
Noah Sybert (Health and Physical Activity Leadership, 4.00 GPA), Middle Tennessee’s
Juan Lucas De La Fuente (Aerospace: Technology, 3.903 GPA) and Western Kentucky’s
Rowen Wilkinson (International Affairs, 3.92 GPA). This is De La Fuente’s second consecutive All-Academic Team honor.
2025 Women’s All-Academic Team
| Name |
Year |
GPA |
Major |
| Ania San Roman Lopez, FIU |
Sr. |
3.97 |
Engineering |
| Rudi Barnette, Jax State |
Jr. |
3.93 |
General Science Education |
Jessica Palisca, Liberty
|
Sr. |
4.0 |
Interdisciplinary Studies: Physical Sciences and Natural Sciences |
| Katrina Schlenker2, Liberty |
Sr. |
3.93 |
Aeronautics: Commercial/Corporate |
| Allie Zealand, Liberty |
So. |
3.79 |
Civil Engineering |
| Amanda Radava, NM State |
Sr. |
3.94 |
Kinesiology |
| Vallary Kiplagat, UTEP |
Jr. |
3.95 |
Nursing |
2025 Men’s All-Academic Team
| Name |
Year |
GPA |
Major |
| Brad Malick-Beltran, FIU |
So. |
4.0 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Mark Roper, Jax State |
So. |
3.9 |
Undecided Management |
| Noah Sybert, Kennesaw State |
So. |
4.0 |
Health and Physical Activity Leadership |
| Ethan Pedersen, Liberty |
Jr. |
3.95 |
Biomedical Sciences |
| Juan Lucas De La Fuente2, MTSU |
Jr. |
3.903 |
Aerospace: Technology |
| Juan Leal, UTEP |
So. |
3.62 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Rowen Wilkinson, WKU |
Sr. |
3.92 |
International Affairs |
2 – Two-time All-Academic Selection