GAMBIER, Ohio -- Reaching the maximum nominations, the Kenyon College Owls had five student-athletes featured on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) 2025 NCAA Division III Softball Academic All-District Team. Madison Buckwalter, Natalya Delsante, and Arianna Jalomo all made repeat appearances on the ledger, while Kylie Hamm and Keala Montgomery earned the award on their first go-round. 

To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete had to be a key contributor who participated in at least 90 percent of the team's competitions or started 66 percent of those competitions. For pitchers, eligible nominees must have made at least 17 appearances or pitched 35 innings. The student-athlete had to be on the team's active roster for at least two years and, most importantly, had to possess at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average.

With this year's award, Delsante goes down as a three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, the maximum number of career awards for a four-year student-athlete. The environmental studies major has made the cut in each of the last three seasons, and she had a career year on the field as a senior. The infielder started all 34 of Kenyon's games and set career highs in batting average (.377), hits (40), doubles (9), RBIs (24), slugging percentage (.481), and on-base percentage (.426).

A physics and mathematics major, Buckwalter became a back-to-back CSC Academic All-District honoree after a strong junior campaign. The infielder set career highs with a .327 batting average, three triples, seven walks, and a .404 on-base percentage. She played in 29 games with 28 starts, and her 18 RBIs tied a career-high from last season despite playing seven fewer games. 

After a breakout season, Jalomo also earned a second straight spot on the CSC Academic All-District Team. The psychology major led qualified hitters with a .422 average and 31 RBIs while tying for the team lead with one home run. The junior started all 26 games she played, and despite being limited to 12 fewer games than last season due to injury, she set career highs in batting average, runs (25), triples (2), RBIs, slugging percentage, walks (8), and on-base percentage while recording just one less hit than last year.

Hamm handled the bulk of Kenyon's pitching duties for a second straight season, and the psychology major earned all-conference honors for her efforts. The sophomore started all 16 games she appeared in, and she led qualified Kenyon pitchers in ERA (2.94)and opponent batting average (.295)  while pacing the Owls in complete games (7), innings pitched (97.2), and strikeouts (64). Her strikeout total was a career-high despite appearing in 10 fewer games than last season, and she tied for the team lead with 5 wins in the circle.

After leading the Owls offense as a first-year, Montgomery remained consistent in her second season. The sociology major started all 34 of Kenyon's games, leading the team with 35 runs, 41 hits, 10 doubles, and seven triples, marking a new program record for three-baggers in a season. She also tied for tops on the team with 14 stolen bases and a homer, and the sophomore ranked second with a career-high 29 RBIs. She also set career marks in slugging percentage (.538), walks (5), and on-base percentage (.381).

Overall, Kenyon finished the season with a 19-15 record and went 4-10 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play. The team's overall and NCAC win totals were the best since 2022.