NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) men's cross country team earned All-Academic Team distinction from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while senior Kai Hillier (Hinesburg, Vt.) was selected an All-Academic Athlete, it was announced by the USTFCCCA.

The Lyons recorded a team GPA of 3.53 to rank 52nd in the nation and ranked among the top 26.5% of NCAA Division III institutions that sponsor men's cross country. 

University Wisconsin-La Crosse was named the 2025 NCAA DIII Men's Cross Country National Scholar Team of the Year. The Eagles maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.55 during a season in which they won the team title at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, S.C. This is the second year in a row that UW-La Crosse has been named National Scholar Team of the Year.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers. 

The Wheaton men's team has earned the award in five of the last six years. Nine members of the squad posted a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, including one student-athlete with a 4.0. 

Hillier placed 25th at the NCAA Division III Regional Championship at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds on November 15 in Hopkinton, N.H. In addition Hillier earned All-Region honors from the USTFCCCA.

Johns Hopkins University senior Emmanuel Leblond (Mountain View, Calif.) was named the 2025 NCAA DIII Men's Cross Country National Scholar Athlete of the Year. Leblond maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.54 during a season in which he won the individual title at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, SC.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet.

The Wheaton men finished 16th as a team at the NCAA Division III Regional Championship.