SEARCY – Five student-athletes from the Harding University baseball team have been recognized for their outstanding achievements both on the field and in the classroom, earning Academic All-District honors from the Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC). This prestigious accolade celebrates collegiate student-athletes who demonstrate excellence in their sport while maintaining a high academic standard.
The five Harding Bisons honored are:
- Cooper Newsom (Junior, Infielder, Smyrna, Tenn.) – A management major with an impressive 3.94 GPA, Newsom was a consistent presence in the lineup, playing in all 60 games. He batted .295 with 65 hits, including 14 doubles, a triple, and eight home runs, while driving in 51 runs for the Bisons.
- Griffin Meeker (Senior, Pitcher, Manchester, Tenn.) – As a health studies major with a 3.80 GPA, Meeker made 17 appearances out of the bullpen, recording two saves with a 4.41 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 32.2 innings pitched.
- Merritt Jay (Junior, Pitcher, Arlington, Texas) – An exemplary student with a perfect 4.00 GPA in accounting, Jay was a key starter for the Bisons. He posted a 7-5 record over 16 appearances (14 starts), striking out 65 batters in 64.0 innings.
- Javier Lobo (Senior, Pitcher, Guatemala City, Guatemala) – Lobo, a kinesiology major with a 3.62 GPA, was a versatile arm for Harding, appearing in 21 games (four starts). He earned four saves, compiled a 3-1 record, and struck out 44 batters in 51.0 innings with a 3.71 ERA.
- Preston Tabor (Senior, Pitcher, Burleson, Texas) – A sports analytics major with a 3.57 GPA, Tabor was a workhorse on the mound, starting 17 games. He finished the season with an 8-4 record and 67 strikeouts over 73.1 innings pitched.
To be eligible for this recognition, student-athletes must be a significant contributor to their team, maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50, and have completed at least one full calendar year at their current institution.
