Ten Statesmen Named NAIA Scholar-Athletes

Oskaloosa--A total of 10 Statesmen softball players were honored for their excellence in the classroom as they were named 2026 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

The trio of Marin Frazee (Jr., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science), Rylee Riesberg (Jr., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science), and Tori Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education) lead the group with perfect 4.0 Grade Point Averages.

Laila Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) is next at 3.99, while Niyah Tyroum (So., Tacoma, Wash., Business Management) (3.96) and Jessica Lathrop (So., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) (3.93) are also above the 3.9 mark.

Maci Rutledge (So., Chadron, Neb., Nursing) tops the remaining William Penn softball players at 3.87, while Elyse Rios (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Business Management) (3.78), Kya Butler (Sr., Newton, Iowa, Sports Management) (3.71), and Bailee Rinn (Sr., Omaha, Neb., Biology) (3.53) also meet the criteria.

Rinn now has three Scholar-Athlete honors, while Laila Smith and Tori Smith are both garnering their second awards.  Butler, Frazee, Lathrop, Riesberg, Rios, Rutledge, and Tyroum's laurels are their first.

To be eligible for the award, athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale, have attended the nominating institution for one full year prior to nomination, and must appear on the sport's eligibility paperwork.

For the complete list of Daktronics NAIA Softball Scholar-Athletes, click HERE