MEQUON, Wis. – On Tuesday morning, the College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced the 2026 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & Field teams. The honor recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom.
The Concordia University Wisconsin track & field programs tied a program record with 10 total selections, matching the mark set in 2025. The women's cross country and track & field program set a new program record with six honorees, the maximum allowed per institution.
The men's cross country and track & field teams were represented by four student-athletes. Junior Kyle Steiner (Villa Park, Ill.) earned recognition in the 60-meter dash, 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Sophomore Lucas Mathes (Brillion, Wis.) was honored in the long jump and triple jump. Junior Isaiah Lubner (Campbellsport, Wis.) received recognition for cross country as well as the 800-meter run, mile, 1,500-meter run and 3,000-meter run. Junior Zach Wendland (Green Bay, Wis.) was selected for his efforts in the heptathlon, decathlon, javelin, high jump, 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles and 400-meter dash.
Lubner and Wendland each earned CSC Academic All-District honors for the second consecutive year.
On the women's side, six Falcons were recognized. Junior Emma Ahrens (Stephens City, Va.) was honored for cross country along with the 10,000-meter run, 5,000-meter run, 3,000-meter run and mile. Senior Melanie Arvis (Berwyn, Ill.) earned recognition for cross country as well as the 5,000-meter run, 3,000-meter run and mile. Sophomore Jacey Read (Carbondale, Colo.) was selected in the high jump, 60-meter dash, 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Junior Caitlyn Weitzel (Fallston, Md.) was honored in the pole vault, while senior Kate Kotula (Wyomissing, Pa.) earned recognition in the pole vault and triple jump. Senior Danielle Van Grinsven (Appleton, Wis.) rounded out the group with honors in the 800-meter run.
Ahrens, Arvis, Kotula and Van Grinsven each claimed the honor for the second time in their careers.
To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District consideration, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore, hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or higher and rank among the top 50 in the region in their respective event.
Academic All-District honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot, with finalists moving on to the national ballot for voting by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America selections will be announced July 14-15.
