(L-R): Beau Backes, Christian Hicks, Joshua Smith, Patasha Bryan and Paola Bueno each made their fourth USTFCCCA All-Academic Team appearance.
20 Flames, Both Liberty Squads Earn USTFCCCA Academic Honors
7/20/2026 2:26:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The 2025-26 Liberty men's and women's track & field squads were each honored as U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Teams. Meanwhile, 20 individual Flames and Lady Flames garnered USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition of their own, matching the 2020-21 squad for the most honorees in program history.
The Lady Flames posted a 3.63 team GPA, while the men's squad recorded a 3.43 team GPA.
Eleven men's athletes earned this honor, more than doubling Liberty's total of five men's USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award winners from a year ago. The Flames recognized included Beau Backes, Todd Benhase, Christian Hicks, Chase Johnson, Kellen Kimes, Jake Nicholson, Ben Shughart, Joshua Smith, Trevor Veenstra, Gabriel Willis and Reagan Wise.
Nine Lady Flames made the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, including Patasha Bryan, Paola Bueno, Isabella Frattura, Sophie Gonzalez, Katrina Schlenker, Shelby Smith, Bethany Tate, Katie Urbine and Allie Zealand.
Backes, Hicks, Smith, Bryan and Bueno each made their fourth USTFCCCA All-Academic appearance, something only seven athletes in program history had accomplished prior to this season.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team individually, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 (over the course of at least two semesters) and have met at least one of the following athletic standards. For the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or in the national top 48 in a relay event. For the outdoor season, a student athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including the NCAA Division I East First Rounds) or must have finished the season ranked in the top 48 in the East Region or top 48 in the West Region.
Liberty's 2026 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Members
Beau Backes (Throws, Lindstrom, Minn.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.63
Major: Biology Education (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026
Todd Benhase (Pole Vault, Hanover, Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.83
Major: Computer Engineering
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Christian Hicks (Throws, Romney, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.56
Major: MBA (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Chase Johnson (Pole Vault, Flower Mound, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Sport Psychology
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Kellen Kimes (Throws, Ludington, Mich.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Biomedical Sciences
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024, 2025, 2026
Jake Nicholson (Decathlon, Lubbock, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 3.34
Major: Finance
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Ben Shughart (Javelin, Shippensburg, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.61
Major: MBA (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2026
Joshua Smith (Jumps, South Fulton, Ga.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.91
Major: Human Performance (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Trevor Veenstra (Throws, Lynnville, Iowa)
Cumulative GPA: 3.44
Major: Finance
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Gabriel Willis (Decathlon, Carrollton, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 3.33
Major: Geographic Information Systems (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2021, 2022, 2026
Reagan Wise (Pole Vault, Cary, N.C.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.69
Major: Entrepreneurship
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Patasha Bryan (Heptathlon, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.81
Major: Leadership (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Paola Bueno (Throws, Nayarit, Mexico)
Cumulative GPA: 3.88
Major: International Business (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Isabella Frattura (Javelin, Sparta, N.J.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.50
Major: Biology
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Sophie Gonzalez (Throws, Guatemala City, Guatemala)
Cumulative GPA: 3.25
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Katrina Schlenker (Distance, Batavia, Ill.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.92
Major: Commercial Aeronautics
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2025, 2026
Shelby Smith (Sprints, Williamstown, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.75
Major: Public Health
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Bethany Tate (Throws, Odessa, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 3.50
Major: Business Administration
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Katie Urbine (Pole Vault, Quarryville, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.94
Major: Mechanical Engineering
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024, 2026
Allie Zealand (Distance, Forest, Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.82
Major: Civil Engineering
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2025, 2026
The Lady Flames posted a 3.63 team GPA, while the men's squad recorded a 3.43 team GPA.
Eleven men's athletes earned this honor, more than doubling Liberty's total of five men's USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award winners from a year ago. The Flames recognized included Beau Backes, Todd Benhase, Christian Hicks, Chase Johnson, Kellen Kimes, Jake Nicholson, Ben Shughart, Joshua Smith, Trevor Veenstra, Gabriel Willis and Reagan Wise.
Nine Lady Flames made the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, including Patasha Bryan, Paola Bueno, Isabella Frattura, Sophie Gonzalez, Katrina Schlenker, Shelby Smith, Bethany Tate, Katie Urbine and Allie Zealand.
Backes, Hicks, Smith, Bryan and Bueno each made their fourth USTFCCCA All-Academic appearance, something only seven athletes in program history had accomplished prior to this season.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team individually, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 (over the course of at least two semesters) and have met at least one of the following athletic standards. For the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or in the national top 48 in a relay event. For the outdoor season, a student athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including the NCAA Division I East First Rounds) or must have finished the season ranked in the top 48 in the East Region or top 48 in the West Region.
Liberty's 2026 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Members
Beau Backes (Throws, Lindstrom, Minn.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.63
Major: Biology Education (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026
Todd Benhase (Pole Vault, Hanover, Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.83
Major: Computer Engineering
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Christian Hicks (Throws, Romney, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.56
Major: MBA (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Chase Johnson (Pole Vault, Flower Mound, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Sport Psychology
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Kellen Kimes (Throws, Ludington, Mich.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Biomedical Sciences
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024, 2025, 2026
Jake Nicholson (Decathlon, Lubbock, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 3.34
Major: Finance
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Ben Shughart (Javelin, Shippensburg, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.61
Major: MBA (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2026
Joshua Smith (Jumps, South Fulton, Ga.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.91
Major: Human Performance (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Trevor Veenstra (Throws, Lynnville, Iowa)
Cumulative GPA: 3.44
Major: Finance
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Gabriel Willis (Decathlon, Carrollton, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 3.33
Major: Geographic Information Systems (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2021, 2022, 2026
Reagan Wise (Pole Vault, Cary, N.C.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.69
Major: Entrepreneurship
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Patasha Bryan (Heptathlon, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.81
Major: Leadership (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Paola Bueno (Throws, Nayarit, Mexico)
Cumulative GPA: 3.88
Major: International Business (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Isabella Frattura (Javelin, Sparta, N.J.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.50
Major: Biology
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Sophie Gonzalez (Throws, Guatemala City, Guatemala)
Cumulative GPA: 3.25
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Katrina Schlenker (Distance, Batavia, Ill.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.92
Major: Commercial Aeronautics
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2025, 2026
Shelby Smith (Sprints, Williamstown, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.75
Major: Public Health
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Bethany Tate (Throws, Odessa, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 3.50
Major: Business Administration
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2026
Katie Urbine (Pole Vault, Quarryville, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.94
Major: Mechanical Engineering
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024, 2026
Allie Zealand (Distance, Forest, Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.82
Major: Civil Engineering
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2025, 2026
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
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Hammer
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Javelin
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Hammer
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Throws
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Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
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Distance
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Javelin
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and FieldFriday, June 05
Wednesday, June 03
Thursday, May 21
Thursday, January 29