WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University's Ashley Cudnik and Parker Bentley have been selected as the Hilltoppers' nominees for the 2025-26 Mountain East Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The annual award recognizes outstanding academic and athletic achievement among student-athletes throughout the Mountain East Conference. Each MEC institution nominates one female and one male student-athlete who exemplify excellence in the classroom, competition and campus leadership.
Cudnik, a standout member of the West Liberty volleyball program, represents the Hilltoppers on the women's ballot, while Bentley, a nationally recognized wrestler, was selected as West Liberty's male nominee.
To be eligible for nomination, student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade-point average, participate in at least 50 percent of their team's contests in an MEC-sponsored sport and have completed at least one year in residence at their institution.
Cudnik has distinguished herself as one of the top student-athletes in the Hilltopper volleyball program, combining academic excellence with athletic success throughout her career. The junior outside hitter was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team for the second consecutive season and was also selected as a CSC Academic All-America® finalist. A native of Canal Fulton, Ohio, Cudnik maintains a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Pre-Professional Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Bentley recently earned CSC Academic All-District honors and has excelled both on the mat and in the classroom. The redshirt junior from Inwood, W.Va., owns a 3.92 cumulative GPA while pursuing his Master of Business Administration degree. A graduate of Musselman High School, Bentley has been a key contributor for one of the nation's premier NCAA Division II wrestling programs.
The Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners are selected through a vote of Mountain East Conference administrators and the league office. The conference's Female and Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipients will be announced on Monday, June 29.
The women's finalists include Hannah Goes (Charleston, Soccer), Abbie Smith (Concord, Basketball), Daphne McCann (Davis & Elkins, Swimming), Joey Borelle (Fairmont State, Volleyball), Genna Rippeon (Frostburg State, Swimming), Kylie Burdick (Glenville State, Softball), Cassondra O'Connor (Point Park, Cross Country/Track and Field), Ashley Cudnik (West Liberty, Volleyball), Autumn Hall (West Virginia State, Softball), Bhrooke Axe (West Virginia Wesleyan, Volleyball) and Trinity Rose (Wheeling, Lacrosse).
The men's finalists are Omar Elsamahy (Charleston, Tennis), Erik Lotysz (Concord, Soccer), Filippo Buffo (Davis & Elkins, Tennis), Colton Stoneking (Fairmont State, Wrestling), Doug Prium II (Frostburg State, Football), Gabe Onarato (Glenville State, Wrestling), Fridolin Gefroren (Point Park, Soccer), Parker Bentley (West Liberty, Wrestling), Aidan Paulsen (West Virginia State, Baseball), Steven Niland (West Virginia Wesleyan, Cross Country) and Gavin Harper (Wheeling, Wrestling).
In addition to the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, the Mountain East Conference will announce several of its annual honors in the coming weeks, including Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, Male Coach of the Year, Female Coach of the Year and the Commissioner's Cup winner.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
