Big West Student-Athletes Shine With Academic Honors Surge

The Big West Conference’s Fall 2025 Academic All-Conference Team has been announced, shining a spotlight on student-athletes who have managed to strike a remarkable balance between their athletic pursuits and academic ambitions. This year’s honors, revealed on January 22, 2026, celebrate not just the grit and talent displayed on the field, court, and track, but also the relentless dedication shown in the classroom by athletes from California State University Northridge (CSUN), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Long Beach State University, among others.

Across the conference, a total of 440 student-athletes made the prestigious list, each having demonstrated excellence in both academics and athletics. The selection criteria are clear but demanding: a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00, completion of at least one academic year at their institution, and participation in at least 50% of their team’s competitions—except in cross country, where championship participation also qualifies. True freshmen and first-year transfers are excluded, ensuring the honors go to those who have established roots and consistency within their programs.

CSUN has plenty to celebrate, with 34 Matadors earning a place on the 2025 Big West Fall Academic All-Conference Team. This number surpasses last year’s 25 honorees and marks the highest tally for CSUN since 2021. The breakdown of CSUN’s honorees reflects the university’s broad athletic engagement: women’s soccer led the way with 10 selections, followed by women’s volleyball with nine, men’s cross country with six, men’s soccer with five, and women’s cross country with three. Among these standouts, three Matadors—Sakura Divecchio (women’s cross country), Katie Kolar (women’s volleyball), and Tatiana Turgeon (women’s volleyball)—achieved the rare feat of a perfect 4.00 GPA.

“It’s always special to see our student-athletes recognized for their commitment to academics,” said a CSUN athletics spokesperson, echoing the pride felt throughout the Matador community. The Big West recognizes academic achievement by season—fall, winter, and spring—ensuring athletes from all sports have their academic efforts acknowledged throughout the year.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, meanwhile, set a high bar with 46 student-athletes earning All-Conference academic honors—an increase of four from last fall and a notable 26% jump since 2023. This achievement is even more impressive considering that each of Cal Poly’s five fall sports—volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s cross country—captured either a conference regular season or tournament title in 2025. Talk about a powerhouse semester!

The Cal Poly volleyball program, fresh off a Big West Championship and its first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 18 years, boasted six academic honorees, including AVCA All-Pacific Region honorable mention Chloe Leluge. Men’s soccer set a program record with 15 selections, representing 79% of its eligible roster. Notably, forward Oren Stuppel departs as a three-time all-academic pick, while captain Parker Owens combined his second straight academic honor with athletic accolades.

Women’s soccer at Cal Poly continued its tradition of excellence, earning 12 academic honors for the fifth consecutive season. Five of the six All-Big West athletic honorees—Annika Smith (Big West Offensive Player of the Year), Brennan Cole (Defensive Player of the Year), Jessie Halladay, Camryn Penn, and Shannon Porubski—also received academic recognition. Several, including Cole, Penn, Emily Lieber, and Sophia Minnite, celebrated their third career all-academic awards, exemplifying sustained excellence both on and off the pitch.

In cross country, Cal Poly’s women’s squad saw all four of its top-10 championship finishers—Nikki Bridges, Kelli Gaffney, Renae Searls, and Melisse Djomby Enyawe—earn academic honors. Gaffney, who qualified for the NCAA Championships, became a three-time all-academic honoree. On the men’s side, Big West Championship runner-up Spencer Pickren, Eddie Sion (fourth place), and Rory Catsimanes (sixth) led five honorees, with Pickren now a four-time all-academic selection. The Mustangs’ cross country teams made history by sweeping the men’s and women’s team titles for the fourth consecutive season, a feat unmatched since the conference began sponsoring both sports in 1983.

Long Beach State University also had plenty to cheer about, as 32 student-athletes across five fall sports were recognized as Academic All-Big West honorees. The Beach’s cross country programs saw nine athletes honored, with Kyle Reden earning special distinction for maintaining a flawless 4.00 GPA as a graduate student. Women’s volleyball contributed seven honorees, while women’s soccer and men’s water polo—both regular season champions—each saw eight student-athletes recognized. Men’s water polo’s academic success matched its athletic dominance, with players like Artur Diaz, Joseph Jenness, and Konstantinos Kapragkos leading the way.

The Big West’s approach to honoring academic achievement is methodical and inclusive, with seasonal recognition that spans the entire athletic calendar. After the fall team, winter and spring academic teams will highlight achievements in basketball, swimming and diving, golf, track and field, water polo, tennis, softball, baseball, and more. This ongoing recognition underscores the conference’s commitment to fostering well-rounded student-athletes who excel in every arena.

What’s behind these impressive numbers? The rigorous selection process ensures that only those who truly embody the student-athlete ideal are honored. Maintaining a 3.00 GPA or higher while juggling the demands of collegiate sports is no small feat. Add to that the requirement of competing in at least half the season’s contests, and it’s clear these honorees are among the most dedicated on campus.

The stories behind the statistics are just as compelling. From CSUN’s trio of perfect GPA achievers to Cal Poly’s record-setting men’s soccer squad and Long Beach State’s dual dominance in water polo and soccer, these student-athletes are rewriting the narrative of what’s possible when discipline meets opportunity. Their achievements set a standard for future classes, inspiring teammates, coaches, and fans alike.

As the winter and spring seasons approach, anticipation builds for the next wave of academic standouts. Will these institutions continue their upward trajectory? With the bar set this high, the competition for academic excellence in the Big West Conference promises to be just as fierce as the battles on the field.

For now, the spotlight rightly belongs to the 440 student-athletes who’ve proven that success in sports and academics isn’t just possible—it’s happening every day across the Big West.