COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Repeating for the second year in a row and third time in her career, Colorado Mesa University's Ally Distler was named as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Softball Academic Player of the Year this afternoon while leading nine overall selections to the league's All-Academic team.
Distler, a redshirt senior utility player with a degree in psychology and currently working towards her master's in physical therapy with a 4.0 GPA, was the Mavs' lone member to be represented on the First Team. The Mavs had eight others represented on the honor roll as well with Bella Aragon, Myah Arrieta, Preslee Christensen, Jessalyn Gallegos, Olivia Litzen, Marisa Nehm, Chloe Valdez and Makayla Westmoreland each being selected.
The first team all-academic squad was selected by a vote of the conference's 12 softball sports information directors based on a combination of athletic and academic accomplishments. Nominees for the first team must have at least a 3.5 GPA although all 13 selections had a 3.66 or higher GPAs with eight of them checking at 3.9 or higher, including four with perfect 4.0's. Additionally, nominees must have been at their institution for at least one full academic year prior to the season and used a season of eligibility.
Honor roll selections must have a 3.30 or higher GPA and meet the other requirements. Those not selected for the first team automatically qualify for the honor roll.
Distler, who earns Academic Player of the Year honors for the third time in her career, has earned this award in back-to-back years with her earning this award in 2024 and 2022 after missing 2023 due to injury. In addition, she was also named this year's RMAC Summit Award Winner for having the top GPA of any student-athlete at the RMAC Tournament.
She brings home this honor after having much success this spring where she hit .318 with 16 home runs in all 57 games started. In her career she finished with 60 home runs to sit second all-time in program history.
Distler was named an All-RMAC First Team recipient this spring while also being tabbed to both the D2CCA and NFCA All-South Central Region teams for the third time.
