20 Pioneers Named 2025 NAIA Spring Sport Daktronics Scholar-Athletes

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2025 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes for spring sports on Wednesday. Twenty Spartanburg Methodist College student-athletes were recognized across the spring sports in which they have excelled academically, including baseball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, track and field, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's volleyball, and women's beach volleyball.

To qualify as a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended their institution for at least one full year. This year, the list features an impressive number of student-athletes who have met these rigorous standards.

Among the honorees from SMC were Anna Altman (women’s track and field), Bailey Beck (beach volleyball), Tyler Davis (baseball), Blake Exizian (baseball), Lydia Faulk (softball), Elijah Franz (baseball), Payton Gardner (baseball), Maddie Handy (softball), Parker Harrigan (men’s golf), Emma Kennington (softball), Bailey Kiser (softball), Luke Kochanowicz (men’s track and field), Melanie Meredith (women’s golf), Sophia Outhous (women’s track and field), Brantlie Price (beach volleyball), James Shennan (baseball), Steven Strange (men’s track and field), Hana Vucinic (beach volleyball), Nolan Vrooman (men’s track and field), and Dylan Willis (baseball).