KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Thirteen Missouri Southern softball student-athletes earned Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association academic awards for the 2026 season, the league announced Thursday.
All 13 eligible Lions' softball players earned 2026 MIAA Academic Honor Roll laurels.
2026 MIAA SOFTBALL ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL MEMBERS (3.0 GPA)
Name Academic Level GPA Major
Cady Dickey Senior 3.33 Sport and Recreation Management
Daniela Gutierrez Junior 3.86 Finance
Ashlyn Hulett Sophomore 3.68 Nursing
Kadence Janney Sophomore 3.52 Exercise Science
Emma Mason Senior 3.69 Exercise Science
Emily Perry Graduate Student 4.00 MBA Management
Bailey Dillon Sophomore 3.96 Exercise Science
Taylor Nuckolls Senior 3.44 Sport and Recreation Management
Kiki Pickens Junior 3.21 Exercise Science
Katie Gray Graduate Student 4.00 MS Sport and Recreation Management
Maddie Rolfs Junior 4.00 Biomedical Science
Carsen Tinkler Senior 4.00 Marketing/Finance, MBA Data Analytics
Easton Walter Sophomore 4.00 Biomedical Science
2026 MIAA SOFTBALL SCHOLAR-ATHLETES (3.50 GPA, All-MIAA)
Name Academic Level GPA Major
Bailey Dillon Sophomore 3.96 Exercise Science
Katie Gray Graduate Student 4.00 MS Sport and Recreation Management
Taylor Nuckolls Senior 3.44 Sport and Recreation Management
Kiki Pickens Junior 3.21 Exercise Science
Maddie Rolfs Junior 4.00 Biomedical Science
Carsen Tinkler Senior 4.00 Marketing/Finance, MBA Data Analytics
2026 MIAA SOFTBALL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS (4.0 GPA)
Name Academic Level GPA Major
Katie Gray Graduate Student 4.00 MS Sport and Recreation Management
Maddie Rolfs Junior 4.00 Biomedical Science
Carsen Tinkler Senior 4.00 Marketing/Finance, MBA Data Analytics
Easton Walter Sophomore 4.00 Biomedical Science
One-hundred and 38 NCAA Division II student-athletes from all ten MIAA women's tennis member institutions were honored by the Association for their work in the classroom this season. There were also 36 softball players named MIAA Scholar-Athletes and 17 who earned the league's Academic Excellence award.
The prestigious MIAA Academic Excellence award was achieved by a total of 17 softball student-athletes. An Academic Excellence award recipient must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of at least 4.00 at the certifying member institution. The honoree also must have at least two terms of grades reported at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.
The Scholar-Athlete award distinction also went to 36 student-athletes who excelled in the classroom and on the field. In the classroom, a Scholar-Athlete is an individual that has a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.50 or better at the certifying member institution and have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution. Student-athletes must also receive All-MIAA honors in the 2026 season to achieve the full Scholar-Athlete status.
One-hundred and 38 softball student-athletes were named to the 2026 MIAA Academic Honor Roll. To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 or above at the certifying member institution. The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.
Katie Gray,
Carsen Tinkler and
Maddie Rolfs were three of eight softball players who earned all three academic honors.
These softball academic awards do not include first year student-athletes or first-year transfers. The MIAA will release separate academic awards for its 2025-26 newcomers at the end of June.
2026 SOFTBALL ACADEMIC AWARDS:
Academic Honor Roll Members — 138
Scholar-Athletes — 36
Academic Excellence Award Recipients — 17
