Built in the Desert! For the first time in recent memory, A Matador Milestone as all seven of Arizona Western's athletic programs are eligible for NJCAA All-Academic Nominations.

"This is the first year I can remember that all seven teams qualify," Director of Admissions & Registrar at Arizona Western College, Debra Vega said. "It's an incredible achievement and the first time it's happened in at least a decade. I've been here 10 years, and this is the first time this has happened."

It's not the first time it has happened in the history of Arizona Western athletics, but it is a rarity.

"It's awesome," Arizona Western Athletic Director Jerry Smith said. "We've done it before, but it's been a while. A long while. Not only did all of our teams qualify, they did it by a lot. It's just awesome work by our student-athletes and coaches." 

Arizona Western's athletic teams end the school year with a combined 3.469 GPA. The Matadors are led by the softball team's 3.710 followed by women's basketball at 3.566, women's soccer at 3.528, men's soccer 3.494,
volleyball 3.471, men's basketball 3.273 and baseball 3.27. Not only do all seven teams qualify for NJCAA All-Academic Nominations, but 68 student-athletes are recognized as NJCAA Individual All-Academic winners for their achievements in the classroom. 

All-Academic First Team

Autumn Arriola - Softball
Pierre-Jean Dannenmuller - Men's Soccer 
Lea Frechette - Softball 
Mario A Gonzalez - Men's Soccer 
Elias Huber - Baseball 
Laisha Ibarra - Softball 
Ozaki Kanon - Women's Soccer 
Andrea Krgovic - Volleyball 
Ariana Peraza - Women's Soccer
Carlos Daniel Riascos - Men's Soccer
Ga-Eon Ryu - Women's Soccer
Noah Segura - Men's Soccer

All-Academic Second Team

Luis Acosta - Baseball 
Adysun Adam - Women's Soccer
Shayden Aguigui - Volleyball 
Diego Alcala - Baseball
Mattia Bernardis - Baseball 
Maria Brunetto - Men's Basketball 
Joyce Crosby - Volleyball 
Nehir Erimez - Volleyball 
Iliam Fevry - Men's Basketball 
Angelina Fortunato - Softball 
Kiana Knudson - Women's Soccer 
Shota Kotera - Men's Soccer
Alessandro Laise - Baseball 
Queren Loubaki - Women's Basketball 
Jaylei Miller - Women's Soccer 
Taikan Naito - Men's Soccer 
Noah Naus - Men's Soccer 
Yusei Nishida - Men's Soccer
Chen Pan - Women's Basketball 
Matteo Pierre - Baseball 
Avery Rodriguez - Softball 
Aiki Sadaoka - Men's Soccer 
Easton Sheppeard - Men's Basketball 
Jessica Smith - Softball 
Karen Sodeyama - Women's Soccer 
Nevaeh Tapia - Softball 
Analy Trejo - Softball 
Justin Vallelian - Men's Soccer 
Gabriella Weisser - Softball 
Asa Yamazaki - Women's Soccer 
Kei Yoneda - Women's Soccer 
Reika Yuba - Women's Soccer 
Kya Yun - Softball 

All-Academic Third Team

Myah Alexander - Softball 
Jared Arias - Men's Basketball 
Filippo Baldassarri - Baseball 
Ziad Barakat - Men's Soccer 
Brooklyn Cann - Softball 
Mable Doumbia - Women's Basketball 
Engel Gutierrez - Men's Basketball 
Tamoy Hamilton - Women's Basketball 
Reina Kasano - Women's Soccer 
Dan Kawanishi - Baseball 
Aline Mastelic - Women's Basketball 
Joris Meinsma - Baseball 
Yuliana Negrete Felix - Women's Soccer 
Riley Purdy - Softball 
Larissa Rueda - Softball 
Walter Sanchez - Men's Soccer 
Talita Soares Do Espirito Santo - Volleyball 
Corinna Talbot - Softball 
Blanca Terminel - Volleyball 
Paora Winitana - Men's Basketball 
Takuto Yamaguchi - Men's Soccer

"What an awesome group of students and coaches," Jerry Smith said.

"This is just awesome," Executive Vice President for Learning & Student Services Bryan Doak added. 

The accomplishment is the cherry on top of a very successful season for the Arizona Western athletic department. The teams made the national tournament with Women's Soccer placing as the national runner-up for the second season in a row. The women's basketball team knocked off the No. 1 team in the country to win the Region I title and earn a spot in the national tournament. The Softball team also advanced to the NJCAA DI Softball World Series and won two games on the national stage for the first time since 2001. 

The Matadors Linka Ono (women's soccer), Ten Shindo (baseball), Mable Doumbia (women's basketball) and Marsai Mason (men's basketball) were all named ACCAC players of the year for their respective sports. Jessica Smith (softball) was named ACCAC and the Region I West District Pitcher of the Year. Garance Soulas (women's basketball) was named Region I / West District MVP. 

Victor Verdugo (women's soccer) and Kyle Isaacs (Men's basketball) were named ACCAC Coaches of the Year and led their teams to regular season championships. Chelsea Dewey (women's basketball) and Joel Prickett (softball) became the first coaches in their program's history to take their teams to the national tournament in back-to-back years. Prickett did it in his first two seasons and also won his 800th game as a head coach at the NJCAA DI Softball World Series. The 2025-26 season was one for the history books for Arizona Western Athletics. 

"Amazing," Former Arizona Western College President Dr. Daniel Corr said. "Super proud of the Matador program."