Worcester Polytechnic Institute announced that its baseball squad captured a league‑leading 26 spots on the 2026 Spring NEWMAC Academic All‑Conference Team, the largest contingent of any program in the conference.
A Record‑Breaking Academic Squad
The honor reflects a combination of athletic performance and academic achievement, requiring a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale — or 4.35 on a 5.0 scale — after the fall 2025 semester, along with full‑season varsity participation.
Among the honorees, seniors Jonathan Lattimer, Shane McLaughlin, Zachary Roethlein, Ethan Smith, and Jack Zawacki, together with graduate student Brian Riley, earned the distinction for the third time in their careers, while juniors Damon Chase, Trice Cote, James DiGiovanni, Luke Frauton, Nicholas Mazzarella, Spencer Merrick, Dominic Monico, Matt Shea, and Jacob Wiberg were recognized for the second straight year.
Eleven newcomers — sophomores Chuck Cappello, Joseph Conti, Michael Domino, Andrew Flamini, Alex Hee, Daniel Lynn, Miles Pratt, Max Robison, Andrew Rea, Holden Norman, and junior Joe DiMichele — received the award for the first time, underscoring the program’s depth of talent.
The NEWMAC, an association of 12 selective academic institutions that partners with eight associate members and sponsors 20 sports, praised the student‑athletes for embodying the conference’s commitment to integrating rigorous academics with competitive athletics.
WPI’s Athletic Director highlighted that the cohort exemplifies the institute’s mission to develop well‑rounded leaders, noting that the achievement not only reflects individual perseverance but also the supportive environment fostered by coaches, faculty, and teammates.