Slippery Rock University's baseball team has achieved significant academic recognition with five student-athletes being named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. The honorees鈥擥age Gillott, Cole Grady, Michael Kitko, Joey Vanzin, and Clay Wiesen鈥攄emonstrated excellence both in academics, with GPAs above 3.50, and on the field, having met stringent eligibility criteria. Notably, Gillott and Kitko are making their third appearances on the team, while Grady, Vanzin, and Wiesen are first-time selections. Gillott, Grady, and Kitko will also advance to the Academic All-America ballot, to be announced on June 23.

By the Numbers
  • Five student-athletes named to the 2026 Academic All-District Team.
  • All honorees boast GPAs above 3.50 and met specific athletic performance criteria.
State of Play
  • Slippery Rock recently concluded the season with a 30-18 record.
  • This marks the program's third 30-win season in the last five years and an advancement to the PSAC Tournament.
What's Next

The upcoming announcement of the Academic All-America team on June 23 will highlight those selected from the All-District Team, including Slippery Rock's Gillott, Grady, and Kitko, potentially elevating their national recognition for academic excellence.

Bottom Line

The achievements of these five student-athletes reflect Slippery Rock鈥檚 commitment to balancing academic excellence with athletic performance, emphasizing the importance of educational attainment in collegiate sports.