University of New Hampshire Athletics
16 Wildcats Named an America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete
6/22/2026 12:12:00 PM | Field Hockey, General, Men's Soccer, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming and Diving, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball, Academics, Men's Cross Country
BOSTON – Sixteen University of New Hampshire Wildcats were named a 2025-26 America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete in recognition of exemplary academic achievement through their college careers. The conference's complete list of 157 honorees was announced Monday.
Each of the 157 Presidential Scholar-Athletes earned an undergraduate degree in the 2025-26 academic year with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher and attended their institution for a minimum of two years.
UNH's America East championship field hockey team led the way for New Hampshire, alongside the swimming and diving and women's track & field teams, with three Wildcats honored. The volleyball and men's track & field teams both had two honorees while lacrosse, women's soccer and men's soccer had one apiece.
The UNH honorees include four 2025-26 America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipients – Zachary Hooper (Concord, N.H.) in men's cross country, Audrey Mahoney (Downers Grove, Ill.) in swimming and diving, Abbi Maier (Cincinnati, Ohio) in women's soccer, and Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) in field hockey – as well as America East Elite 18 field hockey honoree Brecken Calcari (St. Louis, Mo.).
Hooper, Maier and Paige Kenny (Kensington, Md.) of women's lacrosse each recorded a 3.98 GPA to lead the 'Cats.
Madilynn Clark (Evanston, Ill.) was the third field hockey player on the list.
Mahoney was joined by teammates Caitlin Mason (Charleston, S.C.) and Carolyn Nelson (Glen Ellyn, Ill.).
Lauren Boilard (San Francisco, Calif.), Liliana Chirichella (Troy, N.H.) and Delaney Hesler (Steep Falls, Maine) made the grade from the women's track & field team; both Boilard and Hesler were also members of the women's cross country team.
Meredith Hohnbaum (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Lindsey Kriendler (Houston, Texas) were the pair of volleyball players who earned recognition.
Caden Zalenski (Milford, N.H.) was the other honoree from the men's track & field team.
Jacob Stazenski (Columbus, Ohio) was the men's soccer player feted.
The Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award started in the 2013-14 academic year and a total of 1,258 elite student-athletes have been honored as part of the program.
America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country that honors over two-thirds of its student-athletes for classroom success, including its sports Scholar-Athletes and All-Academic honorees, Presidential Scholar-Athletes, Elite 18 recipients, and its Honor Roll.
GoCatsTravel
Whenever or wherever you travel to cheer the Wildcats, book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — it is the same rate as anywhere else, and 50 percent of proceeds go back to Wildcat Athletics. CLICK HERE to Pick your team, book your stay.
UNH 2025-26 America East Presidential Scholar-Athletes
Each of the 157 Presidential Scholar-Athletes earned an undergraduate degree in the 2025-26 academic year with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher and attended their institution for a minimum of two years.
UNH's America East championship field hockey team led the way for New Hampshire, alongside the swimming and diving and women's track & field teams, with three Wildcats honored. The volleyball and men's track & field teams both had two honorees while lacrosse, women's soccer and men's soccer had one apiece.
The UNH honorees include four 2025-26 America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipients – Zachary Hooper (Concord, N.H.) in men's cross country, Audrey Mahoney (Downers Grove, Ill.) in swimming and diving, Abbi Maier (Cincinnati, Ohio) in women's soccer, and Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) in field hockey – as well as America East Elite 18 field hockey honoree Brecken Calcari (St. Louis, Mo.).
Hooper, Maier and Paige Kenny (Kensington, Md.) of women's lacrosse each recorded a 3.98 GPA to lead the 'Cats.
Madilynn Clark (Evanston, Ill.) was the third field hockey player on the list.
Mahoney was joined by teammates Caitlin Mason (Charleston, S.C.) and Carolyn Nelson (Glen Ellyn, Ill.).
Lauren Boilard (San Francisco, Calif.), Liliana Chirichella (Troy, N.H.) and Delaney Hesler (Steep Falls, Maine) made the grade from the women's track & field team; both Boilard and Hesler were also members of the women's cross country team.
Meredith Hohnbaum (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Lindsey Kriendler (Houston, Texas) were the pair of volleyball players who earned recognition.
Caden Zalenski (Milford, N.H.) was the other honoree from the men's track & field team.
Jacob Stazenski (Columbus, Ohio) was the men's soccer player feted.
The Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award started in the 2013-14 academic year and a total of 1,258 elite student-athletes have been honored as part of the program.
America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country that honors over two-thirds of its student-athletes for classroom success, including its sports Scholar-Athletes and All-Academic honorees, Presidential Scholar-Athletes, Elite 18 recipients, and its Honor Roll.
GoCatsTravel
Whenever or wherever you travel to cheer the Wildcats, book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — it is the same rate as anywhere else, and 50 percent of proceeds go back to Wildcat Athletics. CLICK HERE to Pick your team, book your stay.
UNH 2025-26 America East Presidential Scholar-Athletes
| Scholar-Athlete | Team | Major | GPA |
| Lauren Boilard | Women's Cross Country / Track & Field | Homeland Security | 3.90 |
| Brecken Calcari | Field Hockey | Business Administration | 3.97 |
| Madilynn Clark | Field Hockey | Bioengineering | 3.81 |
| Liliana Chirichella | Women's Track & Field | Biology | 3.75 |
| Delaney Hesler | Women's Cross Country / Track & Field | Education | 3.97 |
| Meredith Hohnbaum | Volleyball | Communication | 3.95 |
| Zachary Hooper | Men's Cross Country / Track & Field | Neuroscience & Behavior | 3.98 |
| Paige Kenny | Lacrosse | Sociology | 3.98 |
| Lindsey Kriendler | Volleyball | Business Administration | 3.84 |
| Audrey Mahoney | Swimming and Diving | Health Management & Policy | 3.95 |
| Abbi Maier | Women's Soccer | Health Sciences | 3.98 |
| Caitlin Mason | Swimming and Diving | Business Administration | 3.79 |
| Carolyn Nelson | Swimming and Diving | Nursing | 3.75 |
| Nicole Poulakis | Field Hockey | Sport Management & Leadership | 3.91 |
| Jacob Stazenski | Men's Soccer | Business Administration | 3.84 |
| Caden Zalenski | Men's Track & Field | Business Administration | 3.93 |
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
F
/ Field Hockey
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
M
/ Field Hockey
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
Sprint/Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
M
/ Women's Soccer
Back/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
F
/ Field Hockey
B
/ Men's Soccer
Throws
/ Men's Track & FieldThursday, May 28
Thursday, May 14
Wednesday, May 06
Tuesday, May 05