GAMBIER, Ohio – Five members of the Kenyon College softball team were recognized Tuesday afternoon as selections to the 2026 Academic All-District Softball Team, selected by College Sports Communicators. Sophomore Izzy Akin, senior Madison Buckwalter, senior Allison McCutchen, junior Keala Montgomery, and sophomore Kinsey White each collected the honor after pairing strong work on the diamond with standout performances in the classroom.

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.

Akin, an English major with a 3.91 cumulative grade point average, was one of five pitchers to represent the Owls in the circle this season. The sophomore appeared in 22 games and made 11 starts, logging 62 innings while tossing three complete games. Akin led Kenyon's pitching staff with 40 strikeouts and added two saves on the year.

Buckwalter, a physics and mathematics double major with a 3.65 GPA, secured CSC Academic All-District recognition for the third time, reaching the maximum number of selections a student-athlete can earn. The senior infielder played in 35 games and started 29, marking the second-highest start total of her career. At the plate, Buckwalter tallied four doubles, one triple, 12 RBIs, a .303 on-base percentage, and three stolen bases.

McCutchen, an economics major with a 3.90 GPA, also played a key role for Kenyon's pitching staff while seeing time in the outfield. The senior appeared in 23 games throughout the season and threw 35.1 innings in the circle. McCutchen recorded 11 strikeouts and held opponents to a .292 batting average.

Montgomery, Kenyon's first baseman and leadoff hitter, put together a season to remember as the spark behind a record-setting Owls offense. The junior hit .442, going 68-for-154 at the plate, and established a new program single-season record for hits. She scored 46 runs, drove in 33 more, and piled up 15 doubles, seven triples, and five home runs. Her seven triples tied her own single-season record and pushed her Kenyon career record to 17, while her 112 total bases set another single-season program mark. Montgomery also posted a .727 slugging percentage and a .491 on-base percentage while stealing 17 bases in 20 attempts. She drew 15 walks and struck out just nine times all season, giving the Owls consistent production at the top of the lineup. In the field, Montgomery added another record to her standout campaign, recording 340 putouts at first base to set a new Kenyon single-season standard.

Her CSC Academic All-District honor adds to an already decorated year after Montgomery was named to the All-Region VII Second Team. With that recognition, she became Kenyon softball's first all-region honoree since Grace Pilz collected a third-team spot in 2019.

White, an English and economics double major with a 3.72 GPA, was another steady force for the Owls. The sophomore infielder played and started in all 40 games, hitting .321 with 10 doubles, one home run, and 18 RBIs. Defensively, White recorded 47 putouts and a team-high 112 assists, setting program records for assists in a game with nine and assists in a season with 112.