POTSDAM, N.Y.—Six SUNY Potsdam women student-athletes have earned spots on the College Sports Communicators At-Large Academic All-District Team. The teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the playing field and in the classroom. The at-large category includes multiple sports. Women's hockey players
Rebecca Holmes (Lawtons, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons),
Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, Alaska/Anchorage North Stars) and
Jalynn Castro (Dexter, N.Y./Syracuse Valley Eagles) and women's lacrosse players
Kalli Hewitt (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Schuylerville),
Mallory Marks (Brownville, N.Y./General Brown) and
Tessa Pierce (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) claimed the six spots on the list.
To be eligible for nomination, athletes need to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, be a sophomore and have participated in at least 90 percent of their team's contests or started in 66 percent.
Holmes, a graduate student forward, played in 21 of the Bears' 23 contests. She led the team in scoring this season with 12 points and tied for second in goals (6) and assists (6). She totaled 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points in 88 games for her career. Holmes is also a four-year member of the Bears softball team.
Merrill, a graduate student forward, also played in 21 of the 23 games. She recorded eight points with seven goals and one assist. In her time at Potsdam, she scored an NCAA-era program record 68 goals and assisted on 25 for 93 points in 103 games. She ranks third on the scoring list and became the program's first All-American during the 2022-23 season. Merrill was also academic all-district in 2023.
Castro, a sophomore forward, played in all 23 games this season, accumulating six goals and three assists for nine points. In the two years with the Bears, she has 11 goals and four assists for 15 points in 47 contests.
Hewitt, a graduate student attack, played and started in all 15 of the lacrosse team's contests. She was also academic all-district last year. This season, Hewitt tallied six points with five goals and one assist. She also had eight ground balls and four caused turnovers. In her career, she has the six points with 31 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers.
Marks, a senior midfielder, played in every game and started 10. She had 14 goals and nine assists for 23 points. She also had 23 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers with 31 draw controls. In her time at Potsdam, Marks registered 70 goals and 18 assists for 88 points. She collected 90 ground balls and caused 37 turnovers with 184 draw controls, tying for third in program history. Marks was also academic all-district in 2024.
Pierce, a senior midfielder, played in all 15 games, starting 14. She totaled 25 goals with 16 assists for 41 points. She led the team with 42 ground balls and 55 draw controls and was second with 18 caused turnovers. In her four years with the Bears, she registered 65 goals and 20 assists for 85 points. She ranks ninth in program history for ground balls (129), third in caused turnovers (80) and is fifth in draw controls (183). Pierce was named third team All-SUNYAC last month and was also academic all-district in 2023.
