NEW ORLEANS, LA — Angelo State had 27 student-athletes recognized on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's NCAA Division II All-Academic Team for the 2026 season, the organization announced.
To earn the honor, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25, complete a minimum of 24 semester credit hours at Angelo State and achieve a provisional qualifying mark during either the indoor or outdoor track and field season.
The Rambelles also received the USTFCCCA Academic Team Award after posting a cumulative team GPA of at least 3.0. It marks the seventh consecutive year the women's program has earned the academic team distinction.
Leading the honors for Angelo State was William Opare, who was named the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track and Field National Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Opare, who compiled a 3.67 cumulative GPA, capped a standout outdoor season by winning national championships in the 200- and 400-meter races at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. He also ran on Angelo State's national championship-winning 4x400-meter relay team.
According to the USTFCCCA, Opare is the first Angelo State student-athlete to earn the NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track and Field National Scholar Athlete of the Year honor.
Men
- William Opare (Freshman) – Marketing (2026 NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track and Field National Scholar Athlete of the Year)
- Jaheel Armstrong (Junior) – Business Management
- Rami Balti (Senior) – Coaching, Sport, Recreation and Fitness Administration
- Briggs Jones (Freshman) – Kinesiology
- Coy Klish (Freshman) – Business Management
- Jamie Moreno (Freshman)
- Francis Patanpatan (Freshman) – Business
- Karl Patanpatan (Freshman) – Geoscience and Business Management
- Lamont Reed (Freshman) – Criminal Justice
- Vanam Sharma (Junior)
- Kobi Valchar (Junior) – Commercial Aviation
- Reece Waddell (Freshman) – Kinesiology
Women
- Emma Dikken (Graduate) – Coaching, Sport, Recreation and Fitness Administration
- Ekaterina Fedotova (Junior) – Communications
- Kylie Frush (Senior) – Exercise Science
- Keagan Galmor (Freshman) – Exercise Science
- Alliyah Harrison (Junior) – Engineering
- Lainey Jernigan (Sophomore) – Exercise Science
- Kinlee Lawlis (Freshman) – Business Management
- Abril Okon (Junior) – Kinesiology
- Esma Pajt (Graduate) – Biology
- Kaylee Price (Sophomore) – Exercise Science
- Marie Schuler (Senior) – Business
- Gracie Stephens (Sophomore) – Marketing
- Kitzy Welch (Freshman)
- Helene Wiethoff (Freshman) – Kinesiology
- Kamryn Williams (Junior) – Exercise Science
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