One for the Record Books

From the classroom to the national stage, Lander University student-athletes deliver one of the most successful years in school history.

For the first time at Lander University, all 27 sports teams – NCAA and club – finished the academic year with a full-term GPA above 3.0, capping off a historic season of academic and athletic achievement at the University.

As a whole, Lander’s athletic department posted a cumulative 3.37 GPA for 2025-26, with 78 percent of student-athletes earning a GPA above 3.0. Additionally, 94 student-athletes recorded a perfect 4.0 during the academic year. 

Adding to that impressive list of accomplishments, Lander student-athletes swept the university’s Thayer Awards for the 2025-26 academic year. Presented each semester to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative GPA, the Thayer Award is Lander’s top academic honor, underscoring the commitment to excellence that defines Bearcat athletes on the field and in the classroom.

“This has been a remarkable year for Lander Athletics, with our student-athletes achieving success at every level,” said Lander President Richard Cosentino. “We are proud of the championships and national recognition, and what makes these accomplishments especially meaningful is that they are happening alongside excellence in the classroom. At Lander, our athletes are students first. Our goal is to ensure they develop as leaders and leave Lander prepared for successful careers and lives.”

Along with their academic achievements, the Bearcats brought home impressive accolades in competition.

A Season of Milestones

The Lander men’s basketball team experienced one of the most memorable seasons in program history. After capturing the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) championship, the Bearcats claimed the NCAA Southeast Region title and advanced through the NCAA’s Elite Eight and Final Four, the latter being a first in school history. The historic run culminated in an appearance in the NCAA National Championship game in Indianapolis, where Lander competed in front of a national audience of 1.1 million viewers on CBS.

Currently ranked No. 3 in the country, the bass fishing team secured the program’s third national title in the past three seasons, after teammates Matthew Knopp and Logan Russell captured the 2026 MLF College Fishing National Championship. Meanwhile, with one of the most accomplished regular seasons in team history, senior Anderson Jones won the Strike King Bassmaster College Series, while also being named Lunkers Trail Angler of the Year. Earlier in the season, the team earned S.C. Bass National Team of the Year honors with the state championship win.

The Lander wrestling team continued its dominance on the mat this year, winning the regular season, conference tournament and NCAA Super Regional titles, and finishing fifth nationally. Individually, David Hunsberger won his third consecutive NCAA National Championship and was named the championship’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, while five wrestlers earned All-American honors.

On the course, Kajsa Lindqvist was named the Peach Belt Conference Women’s Golfer of the Year and won the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship — a first in Lander and PBC history. She later finished fourth in the nation at the NCAA National Championship.

Across Lander Athletics, teams and student-athletes continued to make their mark:

• 58 student-athletes earned conference Player of the Week awards, the highest-ever total for Lander Athletics.
• Acrobatics and tumbling won its first-ever conference championship and finished 10th in the nation. Junior top/tumbler Ashlyn Shively was named Conference Carolinas’ Athlete of the Year. Rhianna Philcox was also named the conference’s acrobatics and tumbling Scholar-Athlete of the Year and received Lander’s Thayer Award for the Spring 2026 graduating class.
• Women’s soccer advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. Defender Shae Baldwin received Lander’s Thayer Award for the Fall 2025 graduating class.
• Baseball captured the PBC Tournament championship, their second in a row and third consecutive year winning a regular-season or tournament conference title.
• Esports has won five conference titles this academic year.
• Volleyball had a conference player of the year and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament.
• Softball made it to the regional final championship game in the NCAA Softball Tournament.
• Men’s tennis played all the way to the NCAA Regional Tournament.
• Men’s soccer reached the PBC semifinals and senior Christian Hatley was named the PBC’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Building a Championship Culture

Lander’s coaching and support staff also earned honors across various sports this season.

Men’s basketball head coach Omar Wattad was named PBC Coach of the Year after leading the team to a historic 17-3 conference record in 2025-26. Wrestling head coach R.C. LaHaye was tapped as the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Super Region II Coach of the Year, marking the fourth time in the last five seasons he’s received the region’s highest coaching honor. And, this spring, women’s golf head coach Mark Riddle earned the PBC’s top coaching award for a third time.

Additionally, Lander’s sports information staff was named PBC Sports Information Staff of the Year – the second time in four years that Lander has earned the recognition, and the third time in school history.

"I could not be more proud of our student-athletes, our coaches and staff, and the culture they continue to build across Lander Athletics,” said Lander Athletics Director Brian Reese. “People see wins and championships, but they don't always see the time and energy that’s invested behind the scenes. Our coaches and staff are fully committed to helping our athletes grow as competitors and as students."