Taylor Tops NAIA with Four Women’s Track and Field CSC Academic All-American Nods

TU Honors Page | CSC Release

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor topped the NAIA with four CSC Academic All-American selections in women's track and cross country, revealed earlier this week. The Trojans were one shy of collecting the maximum five selections for the prestigious award.

Noel VanderWall and Abby Mays were named to the first team while Addie Draper and Kiana Siefert collected second-team honors. The honors come after one of Taylor's most successful seasons in women's track and cross country. Finishing runner-up in cross country before a fifth-place showing in indoor and a sixth-place finish during the outdoor track and field season.

VanderWall is a back-to-back CSC NAIA First-Team Academic All-American award winner, earning the distinction each year she's been eligible. The junior has a pristine 3.96 GPA throughout her elementary education classes. The Petoskey, Michigan native garnered four NAIA All-American honors this year and set the program record in the Mile. VanderWall was also part of the distance-medley relay team which finished second and smashed the program record.

Mays secured a spot on the CSC NAIA First-Team Academic All-American after being named to the second team a year ago. A perfect 4.00 GPA while earning her degree as a psychology major propelled Mays to CSC Academic All-American Honors. The senior reached the podium three times through the indoor and outdoor track seasons, including a pair of runner-up finishes. Mays set a program record in the 1,000-meters with a time of 2:53.38 and was also a part of the distance-medley relay team, which set the program record.

Draper was named a Second-Team CSC NAIA Academic All-American after achieving a stellar 4.00 GPA throughout her environmental sciences coursework. The sophomore capped a breakout year with an outstanding performance during the outdoor track and field season, taking home NAIA All-American honors in the 4x800-meter relay.

The final member of the outstanding Academic showing for Taylor was Siefert. Siefert made the CSC NAIA Academic All-American Second-Team after earning a 3.74 GPA in her management and marketing classes. The junior stood out with incredible performances in the long jump during both track and field seasons, highlighted by a third-place finish and NAIA All-American honors during the outdoor season. Siefert set the program record in the triple jump, with a leap of 37 feet 8.75 inches, and helped secure an outstanding 27 points to blaze her way to the Female Athlete of the Meet at the Crossroads League Championships.

Taylor student-athletes have combined for an NAIA-best 151 CSC Academic All-American honors in school history, with 149 of those awards coming since 2010. Of those 149 honors, 70 are of the First-Team variety. The 2024-2025 year has seen Taylor athletics pick up 12 total Academic All-American selections.

The 2025 Academic All-American women's track & field and cross country teams, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their performances on the track, in the field, and in the classroom. To be considered for the award, student-athletes must hold a minimum 3.50 GPA, achieve at least sophomore academic status, and reach certain performance thresholds in their respective track events or cross country races.