FRISCO, Texas – Five members of the Lamar University softball team have been named to the 2026 Academic All-Southland team announced league officials Thursday. Earning this distinguished honor are freshmen Ariel and
Isabella Flores, sophomores
Cimara-lei Wessling and
Cala Wilson and senior
Reagan Smith.
To be considered for this honor, a student-athlete must have 1) a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) through the semester prior to the sports' championship; 2) completed at least ONE full semester at the nominating institution in the season in which the nomination occurs; and 3) participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games in the position listed on this form during the most recently completed season.
Isabella Flores (Wylie, Texas) spent her freshman season majoring in biology and tallying a 3.53 GPA. She played all 58 games at second posting a .355 batting average with a team-high 66 hits, broke the LU single-season records in RBIs (51) and total bases (110) and tied a school single-game RBI record with seven at East Texas A&M (Mar. 21). Flores tallied 18 doubles, eight homers and had four walk-off hits, while driving in a school record eight walk-off RBIs. She received multiple conference superlative awards (SLC Hitter of the Week, Freshman of the Year, All-SLC tournament team) and was recognized nationally as the D1Softball.com Mid-Major Freshman of the Week after a six-hit, nine-RBI series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Ariel Flores (Robstown, Texas) achieved a 3.25 GPA as a sports recreation management major. In 47 games, she batted .292 with 40 hits, six doubles, a triple and six homers. Flores also drove in 29 runs this season, including five in a game against East Texas A&M, while stealing three bases and drawing 15 walks.
Smith (Santa Fe, Texas) finished her senior season as a university studies major with a 3.28 GPA. Winning 15 games in the circle, she tallied career-bests in strikeouts (82), ERA (3.52), innings pitched (151.0), complete games (16) and shutouts (four), which tied a single-season program record. Among her top highlights was her first double-digit strikeout performance with 10 against Jackson State. Smith then earned All-SLC tournament team honors after winning three games, including two against top-seeded Southeastern Louisiana.
Wessling (Converse, Texas) collects her second academic honor this season after she was tabbed as College Sports Communicators Academic All-District. She recorded a 3.61 GPA and majored in studio art education. Appearing in 41 games, Wessling batted .309 with 41 hits, 25 RBIs, 11 doubles, two triples and five home runs during her sophomore season. In a six-game week, Wessling recorded nine hits that landed her SLC Hitter of the Week honor. In game two of the SLC Championship series against McNeese (May 8th), she delivered the go-ahead three-run homer that led to an LU victory.
Wilson (Ruston, La.) was also the recipient of the CSC Academic All-District award after posting a 3.73 GPA while majoring in general business. LU's first baseman for all 58 games was second in hits (57), RBIs (40) and batting average (.311), while she was the home run (nine) and triples leader (three), while recording 13 doubles. She would earn her first career SLC Hitter of the Week award after an eight-hit, 10-RBI series against ETAMU.
The Cardinals tied for the second-most wins in program history with 34 and would reach the SLC Championship series for the second time in program history.
