JOPLIN, Mo. - The NCCAA has unveiled the recipients of the Scholar-Athlete award for the 2025 cross country season. In order to be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.40 cumulative grade point average and be a junior, senior or graduate student who has attended their current institution for at least one full semester.
 
For the Malone University cross country program, 16 Pioneers were named NCCAA Scholar-Athletes. That is two more than their total from 2024. Eleven men and five women received the honor.
 
Representatives from the Malone men's cross country team includes Noah Blaz, Eric Dehmer, Luke Dininger, Xander Heil, Brylan Holland, Henry Hoover, Kellen Reichert, Hayden Schmidt, Jack Swartz, Zack Tribelo and Tyler Twining. Marisa Brown, Jenna Cassidy, Jenna Lathem, Carolyn Miller and Rachel Whetstone were honorees from the Malone women's cross country team.
 
Blaz, Dehmer, Schmidt and Twining are now two-time NCCAA Scholar-Athletes from the men's team while Cassidy is the lone multi-time NCCAA Scholar-Athlete on the women's side.
 
Races begin at the NCCAA Cross Country National Championships on Friday, November 14 at 9:00 A.M. CST.