A recent press release announced that ten students at Fort Hays State University in Hays were selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team for the 2023-2024 academic year. This is the maximum number of student-athletes allowed for selection to the team. The Tigers had five women and five men selected, the maximum allowed for each gender per school. This award honors a combination of academic and athletic accomplishments of the individuals selected.
The women receiving the honor included Addie Berens, Rhyann Brown, Regan Hodsden, Taylor Savolt, and LJSHS alum Jaycee Vath. The men receiving the honor included Hayden Albright, Connor Kaplinger, Kurtis Mc-Cormick, Trever Medina, and Ethan Salmans.
For potential selection to the Academic All-District Team, an individual must rank in the Top 50 of their region in a single event (cross country, indoor track and field, or outdoor track and field), not including relay events. They must also be at least a sophomore in athletic eligibility and hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Berens, Brown, Hodsden, Savolt, Albright, and Medina all competed in NCAA Championship events during the 2023-24 academic year. Savolt led the group of all-district selections for FHSU with a Top 50 regional ranking in 11 different events for indoor and outdoor track and field combined. Lincoln’s Vath was among the Top 50 of the region in six events, while Hodsden was ranked in five events (cross country and track and field combined for both individuals). On the men’s side, Salmans was among the Top 50 in five events, while Albright (indoor only) and Medina each ranked Top 50 in three events.
Berens was an Academic All-District selection for the second-straight year. She was voted to the CSC Academic All-America team in 2023 as a third-team selection. She was an NCAA Championships qualifier all four of her years at FHSU in the javelin with a fourth-place finish in 2022 as her highest national finish. She was a three-time All-America performer in the event. Berens held a 3.78 cumulative GPA as an Elementary Education major at FHSU.
Brown, like Berens, was an NCAA Championships qualifier in the javelin all four of her years at FHSU. This is her first Academic All-District selection. She was a three-time USTFCCCA All-Region performer in the event. Brown held a 3.64 cumulative GPA as a Health and Human Performance major at FHSU.
Hodsden was a two-time national qualifier for FHSU in cross country, making a repeat trip to the national meet in 2023 after earning All-America honors at the meet in 2022. Hodsden also held regional rankings in multiple distance events on the track in the spring. Hodsden held a 3.66 GPA as an Agriculture Education major at FHSU.
Savolt closed her career at FHSU as a three-time All-America performer, twice in the 400-meter hurdles and once in the indoor pentathlon. This is the second-straight year she earned Academic All-District honors. She a 3.90 GPA during her undergraduate studies as a Marketing major and then a 3.81 GPA while working on her Business Administration master’s degree.
Vath had a strong season for FHSU in both cross country and track and field. She was the MIAA champion in the indoor 5,000 meters in 2024. She elevated her performance in 2023-24, cranking out personal best times in cross country (5K and 6K), and the 1,500, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 meters on the track. She holds a 3.94 GPA as an Exercise Science major at FHSU.
Albright collected All-District honors for the second-straight year. He was a CSC Academic All-America First Team selection in 2023. Albright only used a year of eligibility for indoor track and field in 2024, earning a trip to the NCAA Championships once again. He earned All-America status on the track as a member of the distance medley relay team, but also qualified individually for the national meet in the 400 meters. Albright is an Information Networking and Telecommunications (Cybersecurity) major at FHSU holding a 3.78 GPA.
Kaplinger was in his first season throwing the javelin at Fort Hays State after transferring from Cowley (Kan.) College. He holds a 3.53 cumulative GPA as a Health and Human Performance major at FHSU.
McCormick ranked among the Top 50 regionally in both indoor and outdoor pole vault. He holds a 3.71 GPA also as a Health and Human Performance major at FHSU.
Medina held a few regional rankings in mid-distance events on the track. He was a national qualifier as a member of FHSU’s All-America performing distance medley relay team during the 2024 indoor season. He held a 3.61 GPA as a Health and Human Performance major at FHSU.
Salmans had a strong season as a multievent athlete for the Tigers, ranking regionally in the most events of any men’s all-district selection for FHSU this year. He holds a 3.84 GPA as a Philosophy (Pre-Theological) major at FHSU.
Vath, a Lincoln native, is a senior at FHSU, continuing her exceptional cross-country career as a Leopard.
College Sports Communicators (CSC) is a membership association for all strategic, creative and digital professionals working in intercollegiate athletics across all levels for colleges, universities and conferences across the United States and Canada.
