The College Sports Communicators (CSC) revealed its 2026 Baseball Academic All-District Team on Tuesday, honoring student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through both competitive performance and scholarly achievement.
Academic Excellence Meets Athletic Performance
Four members of the Florida International University Panthers were selected for the prestigious list, each bringing a unique blend of classroom dedication and on-field impact. Their recognitions reflect not only personal ambition but also the growing emphasis on holistic development within collegiate athletics.
Cole Cleveland, a sophomore from Delray Beach, Florida, maintains a 3.62 GPA in communication arts and has appeared in 48 games, contributing 23 RBI with four home runs, four doubles and two triples. Andrew Ildefonso, a redshirt sophomore from Miami, carries a 3.66 GPA in finance and started all 54 games in the outfield, leading the team with 65 hits and 44 RBI. Preston Prince, a senior left-hander from Hilton, New York, majors in finance with a 3.88 GPA and has pitched 54 innings, striking out 54 batters across 11 appearances. Cooper Rasmussen, a junior from Temecula, California, boasts a 3.97 GPA in criminal justice and ranks second on the team with 56 hits and 12 home runs in 48 games.
Their academic majors span communication arts, finance and criminal justice, underscoring a commitment to diverse fields of study. Collectively, these athletes illustrate how rigorous scholarship can coexist with high-level competition, setting a benchmark for future student-athletes at FIU and beyond.
The recognition also reflects the supportive environment cultivated by the university’s athletic department and the broader Conference USA community, which encourages its members to pursue excellence in both the classroom and the stadium.