GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The label "student-athlete" carries immense meaning at Aquinas College—and in the spring of 2025, more than 90 Saints across 13 programs lived out that balance in exemplary fashion. While success on the field, court, and track often grabs headlines, this season's academic honors prove that Aquinas students are just as competitive in the classroom.
Aquinas proudly recognized a strong contingent of NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes and Academic All-Americans, a prestigious duo of honors reserved for student-athletes with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher who also compete significantly in their respective sports. Several student-athletes even posted perfect 4.0 GPAs, earning elite distinction among a deeply committed academic community.
Setting the Standard: Saints with Perfect 4.0 GPAs
Among the many honorees, Jayda Kerns (women's golf), Leah Decker (women's track & field), Anthony Lalomia (men's golf), and Carson Lafferty (men's track & field) stood out with unblemished 4.0 academic records. Their achievement exemplifies Aquinas' emphasis on excellence in every arena.
Other near-perfect achievers included TJ Murphy (men's lacrosse), Leah Rohrer (women's track ), Carlota Arzabe (men's tennis), and Ella Koons (women's track), each proving that championship habits translate to the classroom and less than .05 off of the 4.0.
Team Highlights & Top Performers *Note we only show 4.0 GPA's - and is based on fall semester
Baseball led all spring teams with 15 total scholar-athletes, including standout GPAs from Kaden Edwards, Landon Mueller, and Calvin Tkaczyk. Veterans like Blake Bennett, Zackary Dingwell, Grant Martin, Jonathon Popp, and Sam Pollack added depth to the program's academic strength.
Softball honored seven student-athletes, including Katie Carlson and Emma Houseman at the top. They were joined by Mallory Buikema, Sophia Pavese, Sydney Bosgraaf, Jaden Benschoter, and Alyssa Larson, representing a roster committed to both winning and learning.
Men's Track & Field featured 14 honorees, with Bonfils Matenga, Brian Langlois, Austin Williford, and Ethan Barker leading a deep list that also included Dominic Comfort, Nathan Iacona, Jonah Maichele, Noah Momber, and others.
Women's Track & Field added 13 scholar-athletes, including Cadence Schultz, Katrina Amrhein, Jordan Brown, Theresa Judd, and Madison Rempalski, reinforcing the consistent academic success of AQ's largest female program.
Men's Volleyball celebrated six honorees, including Jonathan Collins and Zachary Nosky. Callahan Schwartz, Colin Ilagan, Andrew Jones, and Connor Staats also earned well-deserved recognition for their academic contributions.
In lacrosse, Men's Lacrosse named five honorees, led by TJs Murphy and Brady Waling, while Women's Lacrosse honored four—Vanessa Bailey, Julie Mach, Sophia Schmader, and Elizabeth Sailors—each representing top-tier student leadership.
Golf was equally impressive: Jayda Kerns (4.0), Emma Franklin, and Mara Brydges stood out for women's golf, while Anthony Lalomia (4.0) and Matthew Denhartigh paced the men's team.
Men's Tennis saw strong performances from Carlota Arzabe and Ruth Rabaut, while Coed Esports added Sergio Alejos, Steven Garvey.
Academic GPA by Team – A Culture of Excellence
Aquinas College's commitment to academic achievement is evident in the impressive team GPA averages across its athletic programs. This spring, the top four women's and men's teams led the way:
Spring Sports: Top Women's Team GPAs:
Spring Sports: Top Men's Team GPAs:
Overall, Aquinas' rostered student-athletes finished the year with a combined GPA of 3.2463, a strong figure for a college balancing the demands of NAIA competition and rigorous academics.
"We talk a lot about building champions at Aquinas—not just in competition, but in life. This spring's academic honors are a powerful reminder that our student-athletes are holding themselves to the highest standards. I'm incredibly proud of their dedication to their studies, their leadership across campus, and the example they set for future Saints. Their success reflects the culture we strive to build every day."
— Dr. Ronald D. Reeves, Aquinas College Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Honoring a Longstanding Legacy
The Academic All-America® program, overseen by College Sports Communicators (CSC) since 1952, and the Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete honor represent decades of celebrating academic excellence among college athletes. Aquinas College is proud to be among the institutions that consistently uphold and build on this legacy.
As graduation season unfolds, and caps replace helmets, cleats, and rackets, Aquinas takes immense pride in honoring the student-athletes who truly represent the best of what collegiate athletics is all about—discipline, heart, and hard-earned success both in and out of competition.
