The Youngstown State men's and women's cross-country programs were well represented on the 2025 Valeo #HLXC All-Academic Teams, the league announced Wednesday.

YSU Men's Cross Country student-athletes Owen Brady and Tobias Jones were named to the Men's All-Academic Team, while Blaze Fichter received honorable mention recognition. YSU Women's Cross Country student-athletes McKinley Fielding, Molly Hopple, and Caleigh Richards were each named to the Women's All-Academic Team.

Brady, a redshirt-junior Biological Sciences major, currently carries a 3.96 cumulative GPA. He is making his second consecutive appearance on the Horizon League All-Academic Team. He is also a four-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll, a three-time member of the President's List at YSU, and a five-time member of the Dean's List. Brady placed 19th at the 2025 Horizon League Cross Country Championships.

Jones, a graduate student studying Physical Therapy, carried a 3.86 undergraduate cumulative GPA. He is also making his second consecutive appearance on the Horizon League All-Academic Team. He is a four-time Horizon League Academic Honor Roll member, and also a four-time member of the President's List and a five-time member of the Dean's List at Youngstown State. Jones was a Second Team All-Horizon League selection after placing 10th at the 2025 Horizon League Cross Country Championships and was a first team selection in 2024 after placing sixth.

Fichter, a redshirt-junior Psychology major, currently carries a 3.64 cumulative GPA. He is making his first appearance as an honorable mention selection. He is a four-time member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll, as well as a two-time member of the President's List and a three-time member of the Dean's List at Youngstown State. Fichter was a First Team All-Horizon League selection after placing sixth at the 2025 Horizon League Cross Country Championships. He was also a first-team selection in 2024 and a second-team selection in 2023.

Fielding, a junior General Studies major, currently has a 3.91 cumulative GPA. She is making her first appearance on the Horizon League All-Academic Team. She is a one-time member of the President's List and a two-time member of the Dean's List. Fielding was the 2025 Horizon League Women's Cross Country individual champion, finishing 36 seconds ahead of the second-place runner. She is also a two-time First Team All-Horizon League selection, finishing second individually at last year's conference championships as well.

Hopple, a senior Integrated Language Arts Education major, has a 4.00 cumulative GPA. She is making her first appearance on the Horizon League All-Academic Team after being dubbed as an honorable mention selection last year. She is a four-time member of the HL Academic Honor Roll, and also a five-time member of the President's List and a five-time member of the Dean's List at YSU. Hopple placed 39th at the 2025 Horizon League Cross Country Championships.

Richards, a sophomore undecided major, currently has a 4.00 cumulative GPA. She is a two-time member of the President's List and a two-time member of the Dean's List at Youngstown State. She was a First Team All-Horizon League selection after placing sixth at the 2025 Horizon League Cross Country Championships. She was also a Second Team All-Horizon League selection and Horizon League Freshman of the Year in 2024.

2025 Valeo #HLXC Men's All-Academic Team

Joshua Otten, Detroit Mercy

Mason Gates, Green Bay

Noah Jahnke, Green Bay

Luke Shappell, IU Indianapolis

Colton O'Hara, Northern Kentucky

Carter McCalister, Oakland

Colten Gasson, Purdue Fort Wayne

Patrick Statzer, Wright State

Owen Brady, Youngstown State

Tobias Jones, Youngstown State

Honorable Mentions

Cullen Boyle, Milwaukee

Blaze Fichter, Youngstown State

2025 Valeo #HLXC Women's All-Academic Team

Natalie Keller, Cleveland State

Nina Pizzo, Detroit Mercy

Ava Genovese, Purdue Fort Wayne

Riley Tate, Purdue Fort Wayne

McKinley Fielding, Youngstown State

Molly Hopple, Youngstown State

Caleigh Richards, Youngstown State

Honorable Mentions

Grace Beyer, Green Bay

Ella Colclesser, IU Indianapolis

Grace Biddle, Northern Kentucky

Anne May, Oakland

Elle Lambert, Wright State

Sydney Thompson, Wright State