GREENVILLE, Pa. (June 17) – Nine members of the Thiel College Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Women's Lacrosse, Men's Volleyball and Wrestling teams were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams, while a pair of standouts have advanced to Academic All-America consideration.

The Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field, mat and court and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA and must be at least a sophomore both academically and athletically. 

Ashlyn Wightman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) of Women's Lacrosse and Kaleb Proudfoot (Butler, Pa./Butler) of Men's Volleyball have each advanced to Academic All-America consideration due to their elite-levels of success on the field/court and in the classroom.

Wightman, a business administration and marketing major, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.86 GPA and is now a three-time Academic All-District honoree. She was Thiel's female representative at the 2024 PAC Scholar Athlete of the Year Banquet and is a Chi Alpha Sigma member and honoree who has made the Dean's List 10 times.

On the field, Wightman concluded her Thiel career as the most decorated player in team history. She was a two-time USA Lacrosse All-American, having collected second-team honors in 2024 and honorable mention status in 2025. Wightman was a five-time All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) First Team pick and was the PAC Midfielder of the Year in each of the last two seasons. She competed in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Senior All-Star Game this past May.

Wightman led the PAC, was second in Division III and third among all NCAA divisions with 113 goals last season. Among all active players, she was second in career goals with a program-record 387.

Wightman ended her career as the program leader in goals, points (439), draw controls (484) and ground balls (278). She also holds single-game highs in goals (14), points (15) and ground balls (11).

Proudfoot, a history major sporting a 3.90 GPA, is now a two-time Academic All-District pick. He is a six-time Dean's List student who is involved in three honors societies: Kappa Delta Phi, Phi Alpha Theta and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

On the court, he played an integral part in leading the Tomcats to a record-setting season that resulted in a PAC Championship and the program's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance. He made the All-Conference First Team and was also named to the PAC Championship Tournament All-Tournament team.

He led the PAC and was 13th in DIII in hitting (.413). He also led the PAC in solo blocks (31) and was third in total blocks (89). His .413 hitting percentage set a new single-season program record, and he is the current career record holder in the same category (.388).

From Men's Golf, Joe Grundy (Saegertown, Pa./Saegertown), a criminal justice studies major, boasted a 3.71 GPA. He competed in all 12 of the Tomcats' team scoring events and shot a personal championship best 82 in the final round of the PAC Championships this past spring.

On the Women's Golf side, Alaina Harpst (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) and Taylor Susany (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) each collected Academic All-District honors for the third time.

Harpst, a nursing major, boasted a 3.73 GPA as she collected her fourth All-Conference selection by placing 12th at the PAC Championships this past spring. She ended her career with a pair of First-Team selections along with one Second Team and Honorable Mention laurel each.

Susany, an early childhood and special education major, graduated with a 3.64 GPA. She placed 18th at the 2025 PAC Championships and concluded her time in Greenville as a two-time All-PAC Honorable Mention honoree.

Joining Wightman from Women's Lacrosse is first-time Academic All-District honorees Madison Liggett (Baltimore, Md./Catholic) and Fiona Shaffer (Fairmount City, Pa./Redbank Valley). Ligget, an early childhood education major, graduated with a 3.54 GPA while Shaffer, a health systems major, graduated with a 3.70 GPA.

Liggett was honored as the PAC Goalkeeper of the Year, was named to the All-PAC First Team and was selected for the IWLCA Senior All-Star Game following her single-season program record 182-save season in 2025. She led the conference in save percentage (.569) and saves per game (11.38) while finishing second in goals against average (8.59).

She ends her career as a four-time All-PAC player, having collected first-team honors twice, second-team laurels once and honorable mention status once. She was also named the PAC Defender of the Year in 2022. Liggett departs Greenville as Thiel's all-time saves leader with 527.

Shaffer appeared in 16 games, making one start. She totaled three goals on 10 shots and picked up 10 ground balls in addition to causing one turnover. 

From Wrestling, Joey King (Cooperstown, Pa./Maplewood), a biology major with a 3.76 GPA and Landon Mead (Clarendon, Pa./Sheffield), an exercise science major boasting a 3.72 GPA, are each making their first appearances on the Academic All-District teams.

King, who was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American in March, was crowned the 197-pound PAC Champion after breezing through the field with three first-period pins. His first-place finish was the programs 16th at 197 pounds in team history and the first since current assistant coach Gage Gladysz did so in 2019. King went on to pace seventh at the Region 4 Championships.

Mead placed fourth at 157 pounds in the Conference Championships. He tallied six wins on the year, four of which were pins.