Cross Country

MVC Announces 2025 Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Teams

Valparaiso's Karson Hollander and Murray State's Samantha Tucci highlight the 2025 MVC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Teams as they have been tabbed the MVC Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Both seniors, Hollander has a 3.65 cumulative GPA as a chemistry major, while Tucci has maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA as an animal tech/vet tech/pre-vet major.

The full list of scholar-athletes is organized below alphabetically by institution and last name.

2025 MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAMS
NAME SCHOOL YEAR GPA MAJOR
Noah Epker Belmont Senior 3.71 Biblical Studies
Andrew Hammel Belmont Grad 3.65 Strategic Communications & Leadership
Reuben Macdonald Belmont Junior 3.98 Mathematics
Travis Gaffney Bradley Sophomore 3.53 Mechanical Engineering
Brandon Kamp Bradley Grad 4 Sports Communication
Jayde Rosslee Bradley Junior 3.57 Construction
Gaven Corpin Drake Junior 4 Graphic Design & Marketing
Xander Kwa Drake Junior 3.75 Chemistry & Physics
Jed Wilson Drake Junior 3.82 Acturial Science & Data Analytics
Owen Cuplin Evansville Junior 3.96 Exercise Science
Cedrik Flipo Evansville Junior 3.55 Management
Samuel Lea Evansville Junior 3.55 Environmental Science
Zachary Close UIC Sophomore 3.51 Graphic & Industrial Design
Alexander Das UIC Junior 3.71 Finance
Will Gelon Illinois State Sophomore 3.63 Finance
Blake Oleson Illinois State Junior 3.58 Marketing
Ryan Handy Indiana State Senior 3.69 Engineering
Brandon Mueller Indiana State Sophomore 4 Mathematics Teaching
Ryan York Indiana State Junior 3.97 Sport Management
Dylan Ellis Murray State Sophomore 3.85 History
Gabe Russell Murray State Junior 3.66 Engineering Physics
Joey Santoro Murray State Senior 3.81 Finance
Brayden Picken UNI Sophomore 3.5 Supply Chain & Financial Management
Micah Rees UNI Sophomore 3.93 Pre-Health
Ben Chance Southern Illinois Sophomore 3.68 Agribusiness Economics
Weston Jokerst Southern Illinois Senior 3.97 Mechanical Engineering
Karson Hollander Valparaiso Senior 3.65 Chemistry

2025 MVC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAMS
NAME SCHOOL YEAR GPA MAJOR
Clara Crain Belmont Junior 3.82 Exercise Science
Lilie Fouts Belmont Sophomore 3.85 Songwriting
Carson Wasemiller Belmont Junior 4 Exercise Science
Abigail Hancock Bradley Grad 3.8 Data Science & Analytics
Anna Perry Bradley Grad 3.57 Nonprofit Leadership
Trixie Wraith Bradley Senior 3.54 Psychology & English
Breanna Burak Drake Junior 4 Elementary Teacher Education
Hannah Kilday Drake Sophomore 3.72 Public Health
Anastasia Kirillov Drake Graduate 4.00 Doctor of Pharmacy
Lauren Bradley Evansville Junior 3.91 Neuroscience & Psychology
Chase Hayes Evansville Junior 3.54 Exercise Science
Avery Stephens Evansville Junior 3.89 Exercise Science
Emma Dubie UIC Junior 3.95 Psychology
Indigo Sterud UIC Junior 3.5 Earth & Environmental Science
Praise Oyebanji UIC Junior 3.67 Management
Nora Brady Illinois State Junior 4 Nursing
Maggie Reed Illinois State Senior 3.74 Mathematics Teacher Education
Colleen Zeibert Illinois State Sophomore 3.83 Exercise Science
Brittney Burak Indiana State Junior 3.94 Physical Education
Emma Gresham Indiana State Senior 4 Environmental Geoscience
Peyton Smith Indiana State Sophomore 3.97 Nutrition & Wellness
Samantha Tucci Murray State Senior 4 Animal Tech/Vet Tech/Pre-Vet
Leah Klapatauskas UNI Sophomore 3.97 Pre-Health
Meghan Wheatley UNI Sophomore 4 Exercise Science
Kayla Young UNI Junior 4 Kinesiology & Exercise Science
Riley Linville Southern Illinois Sophomore 3.76 Sport Administration
Allyson Niedfeldt Southern Illinois Sophomore 4 Biological Sciences
Kensington Black Valparaiso Junior 3.84 Biology
Eva Heimsoth Valparaiso Junior 3.89 Exercise Science