INDIANAPOLIS (5/29/2025) -- Two University of Detroit Mercy men's track and field multi-competitors were honored for their hard work in the classroom and in competition as graduate senior Simon Jones and sophomore Joshua Neary were named to the Valeo Horizon League Outdoor Track & Field All-Academic Team.
The pair also earned the accolade during the indoor campaign.
A Business major, Neary took home a bronze medal in the decathlon at the HL Outdoor Championships, totaling 5,640 points, fifth in school history. He finished it off in style by winning the 1,500 meters in a career-best 4:50.41. Along the way, he also set career marks in the javelin, discus, 100 and 400 meters and was seventh to earn two points in the individual 400-meter hurdles.
Jones, a Biology major, claimed points in the decathlon at the HL meet by placing fifth with a score of 4,071, as he had his best event with a third-place finish in the pole vault. During the regular season, he placed fifth in the decathlon at Davenport with 5,461 points, fourth in school history, and was third in the javelin at Oakland's Golden Grizzly Invite and Elaine Leigh T&F Invite.
A total of 42 student-athletes were named to the All-Academic Team, while 10 more were tabbed as honorable mentions in balloting by the League's faculty athletics representatives. The Horizon League recognizes student-athletes with seasonal Academic All-League teams in each of its 19 championship sports.
To be eligible for Horizon League's All-Academic consideration, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 or higher (based on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, having earned 24 semester-hour or 36 quarter-hour credits, and participate in 50 percent of the team's overall contests.
An Honorable Mention is awarded to student-athletes who received at least 25 percent of votes, but did not make the All-Academic team.
2025 Valeo Men's Outdoor #HLTF All-Academic Team
Simon Jones, Detroit Mercy
Joshua Neary, Detroit Mercy
Luke Shappell, IU Indianapolis
Divine Aniamaka, Milwaukee
Cullen Boyle, Milwaukee
Jeremiah Johnson, Milwaukee
Jack Misky, Milwaukee
Liam Richards, Milwaukee
Colton O'Hara, Northern Kentucky
Yami Albrecht, Oakland
Colin Gasson, Purdue Fort Wayne
Colten Gasson, Purdue Fort Wayne
Jack Mills, Purdue Fort Wayne
Owen Kaufman, Purdue Fort Wayne
Brevin Miller, Purdue Fort Wayne
Nathan Mills, Purdue Fort Wayne
Nicholas Mills, Purdue Fort Wayne
Harrison Niswander, Purdue Fort Wayne
Owen Brady, Youngstown State
Hunter Christopher, Youngstown State
Coleson Kertesz, Youngstown State
Lukas Lang, Youngstown State
Men's Outdoor Track Honorable Mentions
Nolan King, IU Indianapolis
Christian Collis, Oakland
Connor Durig, Youngstown State
Trenton Shutters, Youngstown State
2025 Valeo Women's Outdoor #HLTF All-Academic Team
Grace Frye, Cleveland State
Madison Luthy, Cleveland State
Cailin Kinas, Milwaukee
Isabel Roloff, Milwaukee
Natalie Block, Milwaukee
Kallie Volk, Milwaukee
Olivia VanZeeland, Milwaukee
Olivia Kennedy, Northern Kentucky
Sierra Kendall, Northern Kentucky
Julia Pohl, Northern Kentucky
Jamie Giese, Oakland
Erin Hegarty, Oakland
Grace Nolan, Oakland
Ashley Quinn, Oakland
Riley Tate, Purdue Fort Wayne
Marissa Van De Weg, Purdue Fort Wayne
Zoee Gologram, RMU
Ainsley Hamsher, Youngstown State
Krista Perry, Youngstown State
Nia Williams-Matthews, Youngstown State
Women's Outdoor Track Honorable Mentions
Anna Szepieniec, Milwaukee
Macy Woodward, Milwaukee
Ali Sparks, Purdue Fort Wayne
Ellie Zagel, Purdue Fort Wayne
Lindsey Martineau, RMU
Ailena Reynolds-Diaz, RMU
