Springfield, Mass. – June 23, 2026 – Six Springfield College student-athletes were named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team this year.

The 2026 Academic All-District® At-Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in their sport and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and compete in a specified number of team matches over the course of the calendar year.

This year, Springfield had six first-time recipients which included Amber Wolkner (Farmington, Conn.) and Hailey Gaydos (Newington, Conn.) of the field hockey program, Kora Donley (New Orleans, La.) and Brianna Cassin (Granby, Conn.) of the women's gymnastics team and Eniola Elefontuyi (Niskayuna, N.Y.)and Sarah Newton (Colchester, Conn.) of the women's lacrosse program.

Wolkner, a business management major with a 3.82 grade point average, was a key piece of Springfield's defensive unit in 2025 as she played and started in all 20 contests during her junior campaign. Springfield's defense held its opponents to 1.55 goals per game and produced six shutouts over the course of the season. Under Wolkner's leadership, Springfield recorded its most wins since 2017 and earned its first postseason win since 2023. Offensively, Wolkner was able to also record two goals and four assists for eight points a career-high in all three categories.

Gaydos, an athletic training major with a 3.82 grade point average, powered Springfield's offense in 2025 as she recorded 11 goals and nine assists for 31 points. Gaydos ranked first on the team in assists and second in both goals and points. Springfield's offense produced 2.90 goals per game, which ranked second in the NEWMAC only behind Salve Regina in the fall and with 58 goals, ranked third in the league in 2025. Springfield's 154 total points also were third best in the conference. Under Gaydos' leadership, Springfield recorded its most wins since 2017 and earned its first postseason win since 2023.

Donley, a finance major with a 3.83 grade point average, was one of the most consistent gymnasts this year for the Pride competing in three of the four disciplines (vault, beam, floor) across the majority of the 2025-26 season. Donley produced a best score of 9.775 on the floor on March 1 at Utica, a best score of 9.700 on the beam on January 24 at Bridgeport and a best score of 9.550 on the vault on January 17 at Southern Connecticut. During that meet on January 24 at Bridgeport, the Pride topped the program record on the beam with a score of 48.450, a mark that had stood since 2019 on Alden Street.

Cassin, a health science major with a 4.00 grade point average, competed in the vault in every meet during the 2025-26 season producing a best score of 9.475 on January 17 at Southern Connecticut. She also scored three times on the floor with her high coming as a 9.400 also at Southern Connecticut on January 17.

Newton, a physical therapy major with a 3.88 grade point average, was named an honorable mention All-American from USA Lacrosse Magazine after a stellar senior season ranking 26th nationally and first in the NEWMAC in draw controls per game at 6.33. Newton, also a NEWMAC Second Team All-Conference honoree, ends her collegiate career with 80 goals and 32 assists for 112 career points to go along with 75 ground balls, 41 caused turnovers and 175 draw controls all in 66 total games played on Alden Street.

Elefontuyi, an exercise science major with a 4.00 grade point average, earned NEWMAC All-Conference First Team recognition as one of the top defenders in the conference in 2026. She played in 18 total contests and started in 14. Elefontuyi produced 23 ground balls, which ranked third on the team and caused 15 turnovers, which ranked fifth on the team. As a team, Springfield allowed just 9.17 goals per game, while scoring nearly 13 goals per game. The Pride once again reached the NEWMAC semifinal round after going 8-2 in league play this spring.

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