A Milestone for Empire 8
A record 53 student-athletes from the Empire 8 conference have been named to the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Women’s At-Large NCAA Division III Team, a distinction that celebrates excellence both on the playing field and in the classroom.
The honorees, all sophomores or higher, must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 and be starters or key reserves on their respective squads, underscoring the conference’s commitment to balancing athletic contribution with academic rigor.
Pathway to National Recognition
The selections span a variety of sports — including field hockey, lacrosse, golf, ice hockey and rowing — and represent nine institutions: Alfred University, SUNY Geneseo, Hartwick College, Houghton University, Keuka College, Nazareth University, Russell Sage College, St. John Fisher University and Utica University.
Among the recognized athletes are Isabella Casalinova and Jessica Matson of Alfred University, Shannon Cunningham and Jillian Draper of SUNY Geneseo, and Ashley Ament of Hartwick College, each bringing distinct academic pursuits and hometown backgrounds to the roster.
Those who earn first, second or third team All-District honors will advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot, with the national honorees slated for announcement on July 7, a timeline that adds a competitive edge to the already impressive achievement.
Financial support for the Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs comes in part from the NCAA’s Division II and III governance structures, while the NAIA’s Academic All-America® initiative receives partial backing from the NAIA national office, reflecting a collaborative investment in student-athlete success.
The breadth of representation across New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Ohio, Delaware and Massachusetts not only highlights regional talent but also signals a growing emphasis on holistic development within Division III athletics.