AUSTIN, Texas – Friends University softball catcher Elena Montoya, outfielder Priscilla Mora and pitcher Riley Wertz have each been selected to the prestigious 2025 Academic All-America team, announced today (June 17) and presented by the College Sports Communicators. Montoya is a first team honoree, while Mora and Wertz were both voted to the second team.
A Conservation Science major, Montoya facilitated the Falcon lineup all season, hitting a team-leading .420 with seven home runs and 29 RBI. The Denver, Colo. native also led the Falcons in runs (47), hits (68), on-base percentage (.497) and stolen bases (13).
Mora, a Human Services & Psychology major, gave the Falcons a consistent power source this year. The Beaumont, Calif. native slugged 16 home runs that fell just one shy of the school's single-season modern-era record. For her career, Mora finished tops on the modern list with 45 career homers. She batted .354 on the season and drove in 46 runs with a team-leading .741 slugging percentage.
A Health & Physical Education major, Wertz was named the KCAC Pitcher of the Year after ranking fourth in the NAIA with a single-season modern-era record 248 strikeouts along with a 22-8 record. The Wichita product finished the season with a 1.92 ERA and limited the opposition to a .201 batting average while pitching the first perfect game for the Falcons since 2008 vs. Bethany College (Mar. 22).
The Academic All-America trio heavily contributed to the Falcons winning their first KCAC regular season championship since 2016 and recording the program's most wins (37) since 2013.
"We love celebrating all of our players successes on the field but being an All-American in the classroom is just the cherry on top!" said Friends softball head coach Suzanne Unruh.
Check out AcademicAllAmerica.com for more info on the CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-America Teams program.
