The Citadel Recognizes the Class of 2026 as 55 Cadet-Athlete Garner Degrees
5/9/2026 12:00:00 PM | Baseball, Football, General, Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Mixed Rifle, Tennis, Women's Cross Country, Golf, Women's Rifle, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling, Cross Country, Track & Field
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel welcomed the addition of 55 cadet-athletes as official members of the Class of 2026 late Saturday morning, each graduating as representatives of one of the 16 NCAA Division I programs sponsored by the college.
"Congratulations to the entire Class of 2026 on graduating from The Citadel," said Art Chase, Director of Athletics. "Our student-athletes are to be commended for representing themselves, their families, their teammates and the Citadel community with distinction, bringing pride to all who support them. They have exemplified the values that define this institution.
"The Citadel's mission -- to develop principled leaders -- is clearly reflected in this exceptional group of young men and women. Through their commitment to varsity athletics, they have cultivated confidence, competitiveness, discipline and selflessness and these qualities have them prepared to meet future challenges and succeed in their endeavors."
Overall, seven cadet-athletes secured Summa Cum Laude honors -- Ted Bagwell (MTEN), Tucker Hendrix (MTEN), Johanna Andersson (WSOC), Phillips Daniels (BSB), Aryan Patel (BSB), Steven Trone (BSB) & Wilson Long (FB) -- while seven collected Magna Cum Laude recognition -- Joseph Combs (MTEN), Sam Barnes (VB), Alexis Haire (WSOC), Jack Weil (FB / T&F), Sara Grace Melton (T&F / XC), Matthew Lively (BSB) & Josh Cole (FB) -- with 10 notching Cum Laude distinction -- Carson DesRosier (WREST), Naomi Huang (WGOLF), Kenzie McCallum (WGOLF), Noah Van Dyke (MTEN), Lydia Larson (VB), Briggs Powell (T&F), Sadie Grove (T&F), Garrett Fulmer (BSB), Michael Gibson (BSB) & Kaiden Swortzel (FB).
Sport-to-sport, football led the way with a total 18 graduates with track & field trailing not far behind with 13 and baseball registering another 10 as well. Soccer totaled five graduates, tennis and wrestling tallied four apiece, volleyball finished with three and both golf and cross country closed out with two. Basketball and rifle rounded out the honor roll with one graduate each.
"I am exceedingly proud of this graduating class for their dedication and commitment to academics over the past four years," said Jake Lehr, the Assistant Director for Athletic Programs in the Angela W. Williams Student Success Center. "It is not an easy task to balance Division I athletics, corps responsibilities and a rigorous academic schedule each semester, and many of these graduates faced serious challenges along the way. They not only met the standard set by The Citadel, but excelled as individuals both in the classroom and in their athletic pursuits. Congratulations to the class of 2026."
For a complete list of graduates for The Citadel Class of 2026, please utilize the below recognition:
The Citadel Class of 2026
* -- Summa Cum Laude
** -- Magna Cum Laude
*** -- Cum Laude
"Congratulations to the entire Class of 2026 on graduating from The Citadel," said Art Chase, Director of Athletics. "Our student-athletes are to be commended for representing themselves, their families, their teammates and the Citadel community with distinction, bringing pride to all who support them. They have exemplified the values that define this institution.
"The Citadel's mission -- to develop principled leaders -- is clearly reflected in this exceptional group of young men and women. Through their commitment to varsity athletics, they have cultivated confidence, competitiveness, discipline and selflessness and these qualities have them prepared to meet future challenges and succeed in their endeavors."
Overall, seven cadet-athletes secured Summa Cum Laude honors -- Ted Bagwell (MTEN), Tucker Hendrix (MTEN), Johanna Andersson (WSOC), Phillips Daniels (BSB), Aryan Patel (BSB), Steven Trone (BSB) & Wilson Long (FB) -- while seven collected Magna Cum Laude recognition -- Joseph Combs (MTEN), Sam Barnes (VB), Alexis Haire (WSOC), Jack Weil (FB / T&F), Sara Grace Melton (T&F / XC), Matthew Lively (BSB) & Josh Cole (FB) -- with 10 notching Cum Laude distinction -- Carson DesRosier (WREST), Naomi Huang (WGOLF), Kenzie McCallum (WGOLF), Noah Van Dyke (MTEN), Lydia Larson (VB), Briggs Powell (T&F), Sadie Grove (T&F), Garrett Fulmer (BSB), Michael Gibson (BSB) & Kaiden Swortzel (FB).
Sport-to-sport, football led the way with a total 18 graduates with track & field trailing not far behind with 13 and baseball registering another 10 as well. Soccer totaled five graduates, tennis and wrestling tallied four apiece, volleyball finished with three and both golf and cross country closed out with two. Basketball and rifle rounded out the honor roll with one graduate each.
"I am exceedingly proud of this graduating class for their dedication and commitment to academics over the past four years," said Jake Lehr, the Assistant Director for Athletic Programs in the Angela W. Williams Student Success Center. "It is not an easy task to balance Division I athletics, corps responsibilities and a rigorous academic schedule each semester, and many of these graduates faced serious challenges along the way. They not only met the standard set by The Citadel, but excelled as individuals both in the classroom and in their athletic pursuits. Congratulations to the class of 2026."
For a complete list of graduates for The Citadel Class of 2026, please utilize the below recognition:
The Citadel Class of 2026
| Name | Major | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Rowan Irelan | Marketing & Business Development | Basketball |
| Carson DesRosier*** | Physical Education | Wrestling |
| Roy Price III | Criminal Justice | Wrestling |
| Jacob Silka | Criminal Justice | Wrestling |
| Hayden Watson | Sport Management | Wrestling |
| Naomi Huang*** | Computer Science / Cyber Operations | Golf |
| Kenzie McCallum*** | Exercise Science | Golf |
| Ted Bagwell* | Management | Tennis |
| Joseph Combs** | Construction Engineering | Tennis |
| Tucker Hendrix* | Accounting | Tennis |
| Noah Van Dyke*** | Chemistry | Tennis |
| Carson Wood | Criminal Justice | Rifle |
| Sam Barnes** | Exercise Science | Volleyball / Track & Field |
| Ainsley Dowling | Intelligence & Security Studies | Volleyball / Track & Field |
| Lydia Larson*** | Political Science | Volleyball / Track & Field |
| Johanna Andersson* | Business Administration | Soccer |
| Alexis Haire** | Chemistry | Soccer |
| Elisa Fuentes | Chemistry | Soccer |
| Didi Turay | Exercise Science | Soccer |
| Kennedi Walker | Biology | Soccer |
| Brett Cobb | Civil Engineering | Cross Country / Track & Field |
| Ridge Dowe | Project Management (MS) | Track & Field |
| Olin Korey | Criminal Justice | Track & Field |
| Briggs Powell*** | History | Track & Field |
| Demetrius Shine | Physics | Track & Field |
| Sara Grace Melton** | Psychology / Intelligence & Security Studies | Cross Country / Track & Field |
| Sadie Grove*** | Intelligence & Security Studies | Track & Field |
| JJ Hudson | Supply Chain Management | Football / Track & Field |
| Jack Weil** | Marketing & Business Development | Football / Track & Field |
| Jabraivon Woodard | Finance | Football / Track & Field |
| Ben Brash | Supply Chain Management | Baseball |
| Phillips Daniels* | Biology | Baseball |
| Josh Davis | Leadership (MS) | Baseball |
| Zane Davis | Business Administration | Baseball |
| Garrett Fulmer*** | Sport Management | Baseball |
| Michael Gibson*** | Business Administration | Baseball |
| Matthew Lively** | Exercise Science | Baseball |
| Aryan Patel* | Civil Engineering | Baseball |
| Lane Tobin | Leadership Certificate | Baseball |
| Steven Trone* | Business Administration | Baseball |
| Whit Hobgood | Finance | Football |
| Carson Arnold | Marketing & Business Development | Football |
| Ben Barnes | Accounting | Football |
| Mike Bartilucci | Business Administration (MBA) | Football |
| Josh Cole** | Finance | Football |
| Saul Diaz | Physical Education (MAT) | Football |
| Justice Gilliard | Exercise Science | Football |
| Tanner Johnson | Management | Football |
| Wilson Long* | Finance | Football |
| Ha'Keem Monroe | Supply Chain Management | Football |
| Mikey Rosa | Finance | Football |
| Kaiden Swortzel*** | Marketing & Business Development / Accounting | Football |
| Malachi Taylor | Business Administration | Football |
| Darryle Ware | Business Administration (MBA) | Football |
| Cale Williams | Marketing & Business Development | Football |
* -- Summa Cum Laude
** -- Magna Cum Laude
*** -- Cum Laude
-- #HonorDutyRespect--
Players Mentioned
F
/ Soccer
DL
/ Football
/ Tennis
K
/ Football
/ Track & Field
OL
/ Football
RHP
/ Baseball
/ Track & Field
DL
/ Football
/ Tennis
C / UTL
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
/ Wrestling
TE
/ Football
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
M
/ Soccer
C
/ Baseball
UTL / RHP
/ Baseball
DB
/ Football
/ Track & Field
D
/ Soccer
/ Tennis
TE
/ Football
/ Golf
WR
/ Football
G
/ Basketball
LB
/ Football
/ Track & Field
S
/ Volleyball
OF
/ Baseball
WR
/ Football
/ Golf
/ Track & Field
WR
/ Football
UTL / RHP
/ Baseball
/ Track & Field
/ Wrestling
LB
/ Football
/ Track & Field
/ Wrestling
TE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
F
/ Soccer
/ Tennis
D
/ Soccer
LB
/ Football
/ Wrestling
/ Track & Field
DB
/ Football
/ Mixed Rifle
DB
/ FootballWednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Monday, August 24
Friday, August 21
