Spring Senior Scholar-Athletes
History

ANNVILLE, Pa. (Academic News) – The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Executive Director Megan Morrison announced the 2022 Spring MAC Senior Scholar-Athletes on Thursday. A senior student-athlete from each of the 11 spring sports (baseball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field and men’s volleyball) were recognized for their strong academic and athletic prowess.
 
 
AUSTIN DENLINGER
Baseball – York College
Austin Denlinger (Elizabethtown, Pa.) had an impressive 2021 season where he was named an all-American by the ABCA and finished second in the country with 19 home runs. He was named to the All-MAC Commonwealth First Team and led the Spartans to the conference title and NCAA tournament. Denlinger led the MAC Commonwealth in runs scored, hits, home runs and total bases. Before York’s move to the MAC, Denlinger was named to the All-CAC Second Team and CAC Rookie of the Year in 2019. He is a two-time ABCA All-Region selection.

Denlinger is majoring in civil engineering with an expected graduation date in the spring of 2022. He currently holds a 3.70 grade-point average (GPA). Denlinger is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree, and most recently named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2021. He was named Academic All-MAC and is a four-time member of the York College Dean’s List.
 
 
WILL FORD
Men’s Golf – Stevenson University
Will Ford (Reisterstown, Md.) finished third overall at the 2021 MAC Commonwealth Championship to earn All-MAC Commonwealth First Team accolades. He finished the season with a 76.43 scoring average and was named GCAA Division III PING All-Region. As a sophomore in 2020, he led the team with a 75.20 scoring average.

Ford is majoring in business administration with an expected graduation date in the spring of 2022. He currently holds a 3.53 grade-point average (GPA) and has earned MAC Academic Honor Roll and Stevenson University academic honors.
 
 
JORDAN KOLLER
Women’s Golf – York College
Jordan Koller (Brookville, Md.) led the Spartans to back-to-back conference titles in 2021 (MAC) and 2019 (CAC) to compete in two NCAA Championship events. In 2021, Koller finished in 12th at the MAC Championship to lead the Spartans to the team title. In 2019, she was named to the All-CAC First Team while leading York to the team title. Koller has a career scoring average of 79.63 over a school-record 52 rounds.

Koller is majoring in sport management with an expected graduation date in the spring of 2022. She currently holds a 3.95 grade-point average (GPA). Koller is a two-time WGCA All-American Scholar, has been named Academic All-MAC and is a seven-time York College Dean’s List honoree.
 
 
RYAN KENNEDY
Men’s Lacrosse – York College
Ryan Kennedy (Arnold, Md.) brought home numerous accolades in 2021 while leading the Spartans to the MAC Commonwealth title and NCAA Championship berth. Kennedy was named to the All-MAC Commonwealth First Team, MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year and MAC Commonwealth Championship MVP. Nationally, he was named to the USILA All-America First Team and brought home USILA William C. Stiles Memorial Defensemen of the Year honors. Kennedy has been a two-time preseason all-American and was named to the 2022 Tewaaraton Award Watch List. Kennedy has led the Spartans to three-straight NCAA national quarterfinals (2018, 2019, 2021).

Kennedy earned his undergraduate degree in December 2020 with a 3.64 grade-point average (GPA), and he is currently working towards his graduate degree in behavioral science education with a 4.0 GPA. He was named to the 2021 Academic All-MAC team and CoSIDA Academic All-District IV team. Kennedy is a three-time York College Dean’s List honoree.
 
 
JENNA CHOLOWINSKI
Women’s Lacrosse – York College
Jenna Cholowinski (Farmingdale, N.J.) was named to the IWLCA All-America First Team in 2021 to go along with All-MAC Commonwealth First Team and MAC Commonwealth Midfielder of the Year honors. She led the conference with a school record 6.43 draws per game. Cholowinski opened the 2022 season as a first-team preseason all-American and preseason midfielder of the year as announced by the USA Lacrosse Magazine.

Cholowinski is majoring in intelligence analysis and history with an expected graduation date in the spring of 2022. She currently holds a 3.97 grade-point average (GPA). Cholowinski was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America At-Large First Team in 2021. She was named Academic All-MAC (2021) and CAC All-Academic (2018, 2019) and is a seven-time member of the York College Dean’s List.
 
 
SARAH REINERT
Softball – Alvernia University
Sarah Reinert (Boyertown, Pa.) is a two-time All-MAC Commonwealth selection, earning first-team honors in 2021. Reinert was named the 2021 MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year before earning NFCA All-America First-Team honors. She is a two-time NFCA Top-50 Finalist for Player of the Year, and has been named NFCA All-Region twice (2019, 2021).

Reinert is working towards a master’s in athletic training with an expected graduation date in the spring of 2022. Reinert currently holds a 3.95 grade-point average (GPA). She was named to CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team and Academic All-MAC in 2021. Reinert has earned multiple MAC Academic Honor Roll and Alvernia University Dean’s List honors.
 
 
MARC FELIU
Men’s Tennis – Stevens Institute of Technology
Marc Feliu (Barcelona, Spain) led the Ducks to the 2021 MAC Freedom team title while earning championship MVP honors. Feliu was named MAC Freedom Player of the Year and to the All-MAC Freedom First Team. In the fall of 2019, he won both the No. 1 singles and doubles titles at the MAC Individual Championship. Prior to Stevens move to the MAC, Feliu had earned player of the year and rookie of the year honors in the Empire 8 Conference. In 2019, he received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Doubles Championship.
 
Feliu is majoring in music and technology where he currently holds a 3.83 grade-point average (GPA). He has earned Academic All-MAC honors and ITA Scholar-Athlete awards.
 
 
DASHA YAKHNIS
Women’s Tennis – Wilkes University
Dasha Yakhnis (Verona, N.J.) is a two-time All-MAC Freedom First Team selection and led the Colonels to two-straight MAC Freedom titles (2019, 2021). Yakhnis won the No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles titles at the 2019 MAC Individual Championship, and the No. 2 doubles title in 2018.

Yakhnis is majoring in marketing with an expected graduation date in the spring of 2022. She currently holds a 3.76 grade-point average (GPA). Yakhnis was named to the Academic All-MAC team in 2021. She is a member of the Colonels Elite Society.
 
 
BRODY BEILER
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Messiah University
Brody Beiler (Selinsgrove, Pa.) is a four-time All-MAC honoree, including two MAC individual titles (All-MAC First Team). Beiler won both the 1,500-meter run and 5,000-meter run at the 2021 outdoor championship. He was named the 2021 MAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. Beiler went on to be an NCAA Division III All-American in the 800-meter run with a sixth-place finish.
 
Beiler is working towards his master’s in higher education with an expected graduation date in the spring of 2022. He currently holds a 3.97 grade-point average (GPA). Beiler was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team and Academic All-MAC team in 2021.
 
 
ESTHER SEELAND
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Messiah University
Esther Seeland (State College, Pa.) is a seven-time All-MAC honoree during the outdoor season, including a six-time individual champion (All-MAC First Team). Seeland is a two-time MAC Champion in the 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run and 4x400-meter relay (2019, 2021). She earned MAC Track Athlete of the Year honors in 2021 and Rookie of the Year honors in 2019. She holds the MAC record times in the 800-meter run (2:02.52) and 1,500-meter run (4:27.30). She led Messiah to MAC team titles in 2019 and 2021. Seeland is a five-time NCAA All-American. She claimed the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor 800-meter run national titles.
 
Seeland is majoring in biomedical engineering with an expected graduation date in the spring of 2022. She currently holds a 3.99 grade-point average (GPA). Seeland is a two-time CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American (2020, 2021). She is also a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree.
 
 
MATT KNAB
Men’s Volleyball – Messiah University
Matt Knab (Beaver Falls, Pa.) is a three-time All-MAC selection, including back-to-back first-team honors in 2021 and 2022. Knab was recently named the 2022 MAC Player of the Year. Knab is a two-time AVCA All-America First-Team selection (2021, 2022). He led the Falcons to the 2021 MAC title and NCAA Championship berth.

Knab is working towards his master’s in intercollegiate athletic leadership with an expected graduation date in 2023. He currently holds a 4.00 grade-point average (GPA). Knab is a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree.