Angelo State University

Angelo State University baseball standout Austin Beck has earned the Lone Star Conference's highest academic honor by being named the 2025-26 Fred Jacoby Male Academic Athlete of the Year. A graduate student from Allen, Beck has already earned his ASU bachelor's degee in exercise science and is now pursuing his MBA while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average. This is also just the latest academic honor for Beck, who previously received ASU's Male Athletic Academic Excellence Award, was named the LSC Academic Player of the Year for baseball, earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors, and was named to the CSC Academic All-America first team. He has also made the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll every semester while at ASU. On the field, Beck capped off his final season for the Rams by becoming the first player in NCAA Division II history to surpass 300 runs scored. He also holds the ASU career records for games played, games started, hits, RBI, runs scored, stolen bases, triples and walks. An All-LSC first-team selection this season, Beck also earned All-South Central Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). The Fred Jacoby Academic Athlete of the Year Awards, named in honor of the late LSC commissioner, recognize the league's top male and female student-athletes. Winners are selected by a vote of the conference's sports information directors from the Academic Athlete of the Year recipients in each conference-sponsored sport during the 2025-26 academic year. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Angelo State Univesity Rams baseball player Austin Beck and Rambelles volleyball player Ireland Ferguson have been selected for the Lone Star Conference's class of 2026 Scholar-Athlete honorees. The LSC annually presents a Scholar-Athlete Award to one male and one female student-athlete who is a member of the graduating class at each LSC institution and has participated for at least two years in their sport. Award recipients are selected by their campus and represent outstanding accomplishments in scholarship, athletics and leadership. Beck, a graduate student from Allen, is pursuing his MBA after already earning his ASU bachelor's degree in exercise science. He ends his Rams playing career as the all-time leader in hits, triples, runs scored and stolen bases, and he is the only NCAA Division II player ever to surpass 300 runs scored. He was previously named the LSC Academic Player of the Year and a CSC Academic All-American, as well as earning All-LSC first team and all-region honors for his play on the field. Ferguson, a native of Venice, Florida, graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing in December. She led the Belles this past season with 483 digs on her way to earning All-LSC second team honors. She also helped lead the Belles to the LSC regular-season and LSC Tournament titles and a second straight trip to the South Central Regional final. She ended her ASU career with 1,061 digs and is one of only 16 players to surpass 1,000 digs for the Belles. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Austin Beck of Allen, the second baseman for the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, has been named to the 2026 NCAA Division II Academic All-America first team by College Sports Communicators (CSC) organization. Now a graduate student pursuing his MBA, Beck ended his Rams career as one of the most decorated players in team history, as well as maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. On the field this season, Beck batted .339 with 62 RBI, 69 runs scored and a team-high 8 home runs in 61 games. He also stole 50 bases to set a new Rams single-season record and extend his team career record. He also finished his career as the NCAA D-II all-time leader in runs scored with 311 - and is the only D-II player to ever surpass 300 runs scored. The CSC Academic All-America accolade is also just the latest for Beck this postseason. He was also named the Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year, made the All-LSC first team, and earned All-South Central Region honors from both the D2CCA and NCBWA. See more details at angelosports.com.

Eight student-athletes on the Angelo State University track and field teams have been named to the NCAA Division II Academic All-District Team by College Sports Communicators (CSC) for their academic performance during the 2025-26 season. For the ASU Rams men's team, this year's honorees are sprinter Jahleel Armstrong of Redman's Village, Barbados; javelin thrower Jaime Moreno of Guadalajara, Mexico; and thrower Kobi Valchar of Schulenberg. For the Rambelles women's team, the honorees are javelin thrower Ekaterina Fedotova of Samara, Russia; multi-event athlete Abril Okon of Rafaela, Argentina; hurdler Kaylee Price of Harper; thrower Marie Schuler of Langenfeld, Germany; and thrower Kamryn Williams of Wall. To qualify, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, carry at least a 3.50 GPA, and be ranked in the top 50 of their event in their region. See more details at angelosports.com.

More than 175 Angelo State University student-athletes have been named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll for their academic performance during the spring 2026 semester. The Commissioner's Honor Roll is announced at the conclusion of each fall and the spring semester. To be eligible for the recognition, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.30 grade point average (GPA) for the semester and be on the institution's sports roster. ASU honorees include 75 student-athletes who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in the spring. Participants in all 19 LSC championship sports, as well as three non-conference NCAA sports, and student staff who assist with athletic training, athletic performance and sports information are included among the spring 2026 honorees. See the full list of ASU honorees at angelosports.com.

Tatiana "Tati" Trotter, a senior outfielder on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team, has been named to the 2026 NCAA Division II Academic All-America second team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) organization. A May graduate with a bachelor's degree in intelligence and analysis, Trotter earns her second straight CSC Academic All-America accolade after being named to the third team last season. She was also named a 2026 NFCA and D2CCA All-American. The only four-year letter winner on this year's team, Trotter wrapped up her final season by hitting .358 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI. She also set a new ASU career record for triples (18) and became just the fifth Belles player to surpass 40 career home runs. Trotter wraps up her ASU career ranked in the top 10 all-time in home runs, slugging percentage, runs scored, RBI, total bases, walks and sacrifice flies. See more details at angelosports.com.

Angelo State University's freshman sensation, William Opare of Accra, Ghana, has been named the NCAA Division II National Men's Track Athlete of the Year for the 2026 outdoor season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). He adds that accolade to the NCAA D-II National Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year recognition from the USTFCCCA in March. The marketing major was also named the Lone Star Conference and South Central Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year for both the 2026 indoor and outdoor seasons. The national outdoor track athlete of the year honor comes on the heels of Opare winning national titles in the 200 meters and 400 meters at the NCAA D-II Outdoor Championships in May in Emporia, Kansas. He also anchored the Rams' 4x400-meter relay team to the national championship. Both Opare's 400 meters time of 45.67 and the ASU 4x400-meter relay time of 3:07.22 are the second-fastest in NCAA D-II history. Opare is also the first ASU student-athlete to be named the indoor or outdoor National Men's Track Athlete of the Year. See more details at angelosports.com and on the USTFCCCA website.

Three players from the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, Austin Beck, Jude Stephens and Garrett Villa, have been named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team for their performances on the field and in the classroom during the 2026 season. To be eligible, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, and meet participation requirements based on games played or started. Beck, a redshirt-senior infielder from Allen, batted .339 with 62 RBI, 69 runs scored and a team-high eight home runs while starting all 61 games of the season. He also set a new ASU single-season record with 50 stolen bases and became the first player in NCAA Division II history to surpass 300 career runs scored. An MBA student, he was also named the Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year. Stephens, a redshirt-junior pitcher from Cedar Park, had a career-best season as he made 26 appearances and posted a 2-0 record for the Rams, primarily out of the bullpen. Over 31 innings, the history major notched 27 strikeouts and held opponents to a .266 batting average. Villa, a senior pitcher from La Porte, was one of the Rams' top relievers and led the staff with 29 appearances. Over 37 innings, the accounting major notched 26 strikeouts to only nine walks while posting a 3.65 ERA and one save, holding opponents to a .275 batting average. Beck has also been tabbed to advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot, with the selections to be announced June 23. The trio helped lead the Rams to a 42-29 overall record and runner-up finishes at the LSC Tournament and South Central Regional. See more details at angelosports.com.

Angelo State University Rambelles golfers Mia Clarke, Beth Norton and Caitlin Vanderkruk have been honored for their performances on the course and in the classroom by being named to the NCAA Division II Academic All-District Team by College Sports Communicators (CSC). Clarke, a senior Interdisciplinary studies major from Liverpool, England, carded three top-10 finishes, including claiming the individual title at the Swan Memorial last September. She became the first Rambelle to earn All-LSC honors under head coach Barb Odale. Norton, a senior kinesiology major from Rotherham, England, held a 76.8 scoring average and finished a season-best seventh in the West Texas Desert Invite to close the regular season. Vanderkurk, a sophomore management major from Brisbane, Australia, averaged 78.3 on the season across 20 rounds and carded a sixth-place finish at the Palm Valley Classic in April. The trio combined to help the Belles qualify for the NCAA D-II West Regional for the second straight season. See more details at angelosports.com.

William Opare of Accra, Ghana, a freshman on the Angelo State University Rams track and field team, has been named the NCAA Division II South Central Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Assocation (USTFCCCA) for the 2026 outdoor season. After qualifying for five different events at the NCAA D-II Outdoor Championships in Emporia, Kansas, Opare won individual national titles in the 200 meters and 400 meters - and then anchored the Rams' 4x400-meter relay team to the national championship. His 22.5 points also made the marketing major the high-point scorer at the national meet. In the 400 meters, Opare ran a personal-best 44.95 to win the national title, which set a new ASU team record and a facility record for Francis G. Welch Stadium. He also led the 4x400 relay team to a winning time of 3:04.46, also setting new team and facility records for that event. Earlier this year, Opare was also named the D-II National Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year after winning the 400 meters at the D-II Indoor Championships and anchoring the 4x400 relay team to the national title. See more details at angelosports.com and on the USTFCCCA website.

Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, has announced students achieving the Dean's List designation for the 2026 spring semester. To be eligible for the ASU Dean's List, full-time undergraduate students must maintain a 3.25 or better grade point average on a 4.0 scale. See the complete spring 2026 Dean's List at angelo.edu/commencement.

Angelo State University conferred 901 undergraduate and graduate degrees on 891 graduates during the 2026 Spring commencement exercises on May 15, 2026, at the Junell Center/Stephens Arena in San Angelo, Texas. See the full list of graduates at angelo.edu/commencement/graduates.

William Opare of Accra, Ghana, a freshman on the Angelo State University Rams track and field team, has been named the 2026 Lone Star Conference Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. At the LSC Outdoor Championships, Opare won conference titles in the 100 meters and 4x100 relay. The marketing major also qualified for five different events at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships - the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. At the D-II national meet in Emporia, Kansas, Opare was the high-point scorer with 22.5 points as he won national titles in the 200 meters and 400 meters, and then anchored ASU's title-winning 4x400 relay team. That helped lead the Rams to a seventh-place overal finish. Opare's 44.95 time in the 400 meters set a new ASU record, a new facility record for the Francis G. Welch Stadium, and a new Ghanaian national record. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Angelo State University Rambelles softball players Zoey Sifuentes and Tatiana Trotter have been named to the 2026 NCAA Divsion II All-America Teams by both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). Sifuentes, a freshman third baseman from Lamesa, was named to the NFCA All-America second team and the D2CCA All-America third team. Trotter, a senior outfielder from Lubbock, was named to the All-America third team by both organizations. Also the Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year, Sifuentes led the Belles with a .404 batting average, 21 doubles and 76 RBI. The exercise science major also belted 16 home runs and posted an .814 slugging percentage. Trotter capped her ASU career by batting .358 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI while also picking up the LSC Golden Glove Award in centerfield. She set a new team record for career triples (18) and became just the fifth Belles player to top 40 career home runs. The intelligence and analysis major also ranks in the top 10 in team history for career RBI (171), runs scored (167), total bases (396), walks (99) and slugging percentage (.673). Sifuentes and Trotter helped lead the Belles to a 47-14 record and the LSC Tournament title. See more details at angelosports.com.

Angelo State University Rams baseball players Austin Beck and Garrett Baumann have both been named to the 2026 ABCA/Rawlings All-South Central Region second team by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Beck, a redshirt senior second baseman from Allen, capped off his impressive ASU career by batting .339 with eight home runs, 30 extra-base hits, 62 RBI and 69 runs scored. He also led the Lone Star Conference and set a new team single-season record with 50 stolen bases. The MBA student also became the first NCAA D-II player to ever score 300 career runs. He previously earned all-region honors from the NCBWA and D2CCA. Baumann, a senior pitcher from Poth, emerged as one of the Rams' top relievers. In 25 appearances, he compiled a 10-5 record with a 3.84 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 70.1 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .252 batting average. He previously earned all-region honors from the NCBWA. The Rams posted a 42-19 overall record for the season and advanced to the finals of the LSC Tournament and a South Central Regional. See more details at angelosports.com.

Angelo State University Rams and Rambelles track and field athletes earned 22 All-America honors at the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 21-23 in Emporia Kansas. The ASU honors were highlighted by three national titles for the Rams. Freshman William Opare of Accra, Ghana, won the 200 meters and 400 meters championships and then joined with Rami Balti of Tunis, Tunisia, Jahleel Armstrong of Redman's Village, Barbados, and Taylor Briggs of McKinney to win the 4x400 relay title. Overall, the Rams collected 15 All-America honors while the Rambelles earned seven. Rams All-Americans William Opare - 200 meters, 400 meters, 4x400 relay Taylor Briggs - 4x400 relay, 4x100 relay Jahleel Armstrong - 400 meters, 4x400 relay Rami Balti - 4x400 relay Jaime Moreno - javelin Davyon Williams - high jump Vanam Sharma - discus Jonathan Wright - pole vault Bautista Diamante - 4x100 relay Francis Patanpatan - 4x100 relay Lamont Reed - 4x100 relay Rambelles All-Americans Marie Schuler - hammer Kaylee Price - 400-meter hurdles Abril Okon - heptathlon, high jump Ekaterina Fedotova - javelin Kamryn Williams - hammer Esma Pajt - hammer Both Opare's victory in the 400 meters and the Rams' 4x400 relay championship times set new team records, as well as facility records for the host Francis G. Welch Stadium. See more details at angelosports.com - here, here and here.

Three Angelo State University Rambelles softball players have been named to the 2025-26 Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Communicators organization. To qualify, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, must be a sophomore academically and athletically, and must have played in 90% of the team's matches or started in 66% of the team's matches. Junior pitcher Addy Ewing of Owasso, Okla., junior infielder Kylie Forney of Andover, Kansas, and senior outfielder Tatiana Trotter of Lubbock earned academic all-district honors for the Belles this year. Ewing is a kinesiology major who posted a 17-0 record in the circle with a 2.43 ERA and four saves. Forney is a health science professions major who batted .352 with 68 runs scored and a conference-high 54 walks and 34 stolen bases. Trotter is an intelligence and analysis major who batted .358 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI. She also set a new team record for career triples and became just the fifth Belles player to surpass 40 career home runs. Forney and Trotter were also tabbed for the CSC Academic All-America ballot, with the results to be announced June 16. See more details at angelosports.com.

Three student-athletes from the Angelo State University Rodeo Team have qualified to compete in upcoming national finals events following strong individual performances during the team's 2025-26 season in the Lone Star Region on the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) circuit. Logan Yarbrough, a natural resource management major from Palmer, will represent the ASU Rodeo Team at the National Finals Steer Roping - College Division on May 30 in Abilene. This is the second straight year that he has qualified for the national event. Also representing ASU, Sam Lewis, a border and homeland security major from Amarillo, and Caleb Lake, an animal science major from Bayfield, Colorado, will compete at the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) June 14-20 in Casper, Wyoming. Lewis will compete in tie-down roping, and Lake will compete in steer wrestling. Completing their third season on the NIRA circuit, the ASU men's team finished fourth overall in the Lone Star Region, and the ASU women's team finished fifth. The 2026-27 season for the ASU Rodeo Team will kick off in September. See more details at angelo.edu/news.

Two players on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team have earned 2026 NCAA Division II All-South Central Region honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). Redshirt senior second baseman Austin Beck of Allen and junior designated hitter Brett Smajstrla of Pearland were both named to the all-region second team. Beck posted a .339 batting average with 30 extra-base hits, including a team-high eight home runs, and 62 RBI. He also scored 69 runs, becoming the first player in NCAA D-II history to score 300 runs in his career - and he led the Lone Star Conference with 50 stolen bases. The MBA student was previously named to the All-LSC first team, the LSC Academic Player of the Year and to the NCBWA all-region second team. Smajstrla battle injuries all season that forced him into the DH role. Despite that, he batted .328 with 11 doubles, a team-high six triples and seven home runs. He also notched 51 RBI, 57 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. The mechanical engineering major was previously named to the All-LSC second team. See more details at angelosports.com.

Four players on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team have earned 2026 NCAA Division II All-South Central Region honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). Junior pitcher Addy Ewing of Owasso, Okla., freshman third baseman Zoey Sifuentes of Lamesa, and senior outfielder Tatiana Trotter of Lubbock were named to the all-region first team, while junior infielder Kylie Forney of Andover, Kansas, was named to the all-region second team. Ewing was the Belles' most dominant pitcher, posting a 17-0 record with a 2.43 ERA and four saves. The kinesiology major also notched 78 strikeouts in 118.2 innings and help opponents to a .245 batting average. She was previously named to the All-Lone Star Conference first team and NFCA all-region second team. Sifuentes had a breakout rookie season for the Belles, leading the team with a .404 batting average, 21 doubles and 76 RBI, while also pitching in 16 home runs. The exercise science major was previously named to the All-LSC first team, LSC Freshman of the Year and to the NFCA all-region first team. Trotter also helped lead the offense, batting .358 with a team-high 18 home runs and 58 RBI. She also set a new team record for career triples (18) during the season and became just the fifth Belles player to surpass 40 home runs. The intelligence and analysis major was previously named to the All-LSC first team and NFCA all-region first team. Forney completed her first season for the Belles batting .352 with 68 runs scored. She also led the LSC in walks (54) and stolen bases (34), both the second-highest single-season totals in team history. The health science professions major was previously named the LSC Newcomer of the Year and to the All-LSC first team. Ewing, Sifuentes and Trotter are now eligible for the D2CCA All-America teams. See more details at angelosports.com.

Twenty-four athletes on the Angelo State University Rams and Rambelles track and field teams have earned 28 All-Lone Star Conference honors for their performances at the 2026 LSC Outdoor Championships. The ASU accolades are highlighted by senior Rami Balti of Tunis, Tunisia, earning the Cap Shelton Award as Outstanding Men's Track Athlete after winning the LSC title in the 400 meters and being part of the Rams' title-winning 4x400-meter relay team. In all, 15 Rams and nine Rambelles athletes earned All-LSC honors, including 13 first-team selections and three athletes making the LSC All-Academic Teams. The Rams finished second by just one point at the LSC Outdoor Championships while the Rambelles finished third. Sixteen athletes representing both teams are competing this weekend at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Emporia, Kansas. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Four players on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team have earned 2026 NCAA Division II All-South Central Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Freshman third baseman Zoey Sifuentes of Lamesa and senior outfielder Tatiana Trotter of Lubbock were named to the all-region first team, while junior pitchers Ashleigh Dendas of Sacramento, Calif., and Addy Ewing of Owasso, Okla., were named to the all-region second team. Sifuentes led the Belles with a .404 batting average, 76 hits, 21 doubles and 76 RBI. The exercise science major was previously named to the All-Lone Star Conference first team and LSC Freshman of the Year. Trotter, an intelligence and analysis major, batted .358 with a team-high 18 home runs, six triples and .838 slugging percentage. She also set a new ASU career record for triples (18) and became just the fifth Belles player to surpass 40 career home runs. She was previously named to the All-LSC first team, and this is her fourth all-region honor. Dendas was a two-way threat for the Belles, notching a 10-6 record with a 3.55 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 100.2 innings pitched. The psychology major also batted .343 with 16 doubles, seven home runs and 47 RBI. She was previously named to the All-LSC second team. Ewing led the Belles pitching staff with a 17-0 record, 2.43 ERA and four saves. The exercise science major also held opposing hitters to a .245 average. She was the MVP of the LSC Tournament and was previously named to the All-LSC first team. The Belles finished the season at 47-14 overall and 32-8 in LSC play. They won the LSC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA D-II South Central Regional. See more details at angelosports.com.

Three players on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team have earned 2026 NCAA Division II All-South Central Region honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Redshirt senior second baseball Austin Beck of Allen and senior pitcher Garrett Baumann of Poth were named to the all-region second team, with redshirt senior first baseman Chase Pendley of Prosper earning all-region honorable mention. Beck picks up his third all-region honor after batting .339 with a team-high 20 doubles, eight home runs and 50 stolen bases. The MBA student also chipped in 74 hits, 62 RBI and 69 runs scored as be became the first NCAA D-II player to ever score 300 runs in his career. He was previously named to the All-Lone Star Conference first team and the LSC Academic Player of the Year. Baumann posted a 10-5 record with a 3.51 ERA and a team-high 70 strikeouts over 66.2 innings pitched while holding opposing hitters to a .247 batting average. The interdisciplinary studies major was previously named to the All-LSC second team. Pendley, in his first season at first base, led the Rams with 75 hits while batting .336 with 60 RBI. The interdisciplinary studies major also commited just two errors on his way to being named to the All-LSC first team and LSC All-Defensive Team. The Rams finished the season at 42-19, were runners-up a tthe LSC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA D-II South Central Regional final. See more details at angelosports.com.

Twenty-one student-athletes on the Angelo State University Rams and Rambelles track and field teams combined to earn 32 All-South Central Region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for their performances during the 2026 outdoor season. The top 5 individuals in each event from each region earn All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of the region's top 3 relay teams. ASU's honorees include 21 Rams and 11 Rambelles. See more details at angelosports.com and on the USTFCCCA website.

Sixteen members of the Angelo State University Rams and Rambelles track and field teams have qualified to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships May 21-23 in Emporia, Kansas. The No. 10 Rams are sending 10 athletes, and the Rambelles will be represented by six athletes. In all, they will compete in 15 different events over the championship weekend. See more details at angelosports.com.

Margaux Rene, a sophomore on the Angelo State University Rambelles tennis team, has been named to the 2026 Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) organization. The CSC Academic All-District Team recognizes student-athletes for their combined performance on the court and in the classroom. To be nominated, a student-athlete must play in over 70% of their team's matches and have a 3.50 or higher GPA. A marketing major from Soisy-Sur-Seine, France, Rene was also named to the Lone Star Conference All-Academic Team. The line one singles player for the Rambelles, she posted a 13-9 singles record this season. Along with her partner, Benedetta Raggiotti, she also posted a 16-8 record in doubles, and the duo ended the season ranked No. 13 in NCAA Division II. Rene was also named to the All-LSC second team for both singles and doubles as she helped lead the Rambelles to a 22-4 overall record, 8-2 record in the LSC and a trip to the NCAA D-II South Central Regional. See more details at angelosports.com.

Danaiya Amangazhiyeva of Almaty, Kazakhstan, a freshman on the Angelo State University Rambelles tennis team, has been named the 2026 NCAA Division II South Central Region Rookie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Each year, the ITA recognizes coaches and student-athletes for their excellence both on the court and in their communities throughout the season. Amangazhiyeva posted a 19-3 overall record in singles this season, including 7-0 at line two singles and 12-3 at line three singles. She also had a 16-9 overall record in doubles, primarily partnered with Vasilissa Kupriianova. The kinesiology major also earned All-Lone Star Conference honorable mention for her singles play. See more details at angelosports.com.

Angelo State University's chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) national honor society recently inducted its spring 2026 class of 30 new student members during a special initiation ceremony in the Houston Harte University Center. PKP is the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for students in all academic disciplines. Invitations to join PKP are extended to juniors in the top 7.5% of their class, and to seniors and graduate students in the top 10% of their class. PKP is considered one of the nation's most prestigious academic honorary societies, along with Phi Beta Kappa, which recognizes majors in the arts and sciences, and Sigma Xi, which honors majors in the sciences. See the entire list of ASU inductees at angelo.edu/news.

Angelo State University honored its 2026 Outstanding Graduate Students, as well as the recipients of three superlative awards, during the recent Graduate Research Symposium and Awards Ceremony in the Houston Harte University Center. The honorees were nominated by faculty in their respective academic departments, and each received a certificate of recognition. The complete list of honorees, listed by their hometowns and fields of study, is available at angelo.edu/news.

Eight players on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team brought home a total of 11 Lone Star Conference postseason honors for their performances during the 2026 regular season. Highlighting the ASU awards is redshirt-senior second baseman Austin Beck of Allen being named the LSC Academic Player of the Year, as well as to the All-LSC first team and LSC All-Academic Team. He is batting .370 with a team-high 20 doubles, 7 home runs and 45 stolen bases, which also leads the LSC. Earlier this season, he became the first player in NCAA Division II history to post 300 career runs scored. Redshirt-senior first baseman Chase Pendley of Prosper also reaped multiple awards as he was named to the All-LSC first team and the LSC All-Defensive Team. In his first season at first base, he posted a .998 fielding percentage while also batting .361, leading the LSC with 73 hits and ranking third in the LSC with 59 RBI. Three Rams were named to the All-LSC second team - senior pitcher Garrett Baumann of Poth (9-5, 4.04 ERA), junior shortstop Payton Bush of Amarillo (.358 avg., 51 RBI) and junior DH Brett Smajstrla of Pearland (.371 avg., 7 HRs, 50 RBI). The Rams also placed three players on the All-LSC third team - junior pitcher Nick Gray of Forney (6-1, 3.68 ERA), freshman third baseman Tate Greene of Allen (.330 avg., 58 RBI) and senior catcher Blake Wilhoite of Midlothian (.348 avg., .544 OBP). The No. 12 Rams finished the regular season at 36-14 and open bracket play at the LSC Tournament in Tyler today against St. Mary's University. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.