WILKES-BARRE, PA (July 10, 2026) -- The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) announced the final 2026 Academic All-MAC teams on Thursday morning, with King's College seniors Brandy Varner and Katey Shoemaker earning recognition on the Women's Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-MAC Team.
 
A total of 10 women's outdoor track & field student-athletes from across the MAC were recognized for their academic and athletic excellence. The MAC sports information directors nominate and vote for the Academic All-MAC teams, giving 50 percent weight to both academic and athletic success. A student-athlete must have a spring semester grade-point average (GPA) of 3.20 or higher to be eligible for the award.
 
Varner earned her third Academic All-MAC honor following a remarkable senior campaign that included First Team All-MAC recognition and USTFCCCA All-Region accolades in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw. The Plymouth, PA native was also named MAC Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year and AARTFC Most Outstanding Performer.
 
Competing in three events at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, Varner placed seventh in the discus (45.97 meters), 16th in the hammer throw (52.22 meters), and 17th in the shot put (12.85 meters). Her performance in the hammer throw earned Second Team All-American honors.
 
Varner swept the throwing events at the MAC Outdoor Championships, capturing titles in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw. She followed with AARTFC titles in the shot put (14.22 meters) and discus (49.24 meters), while placing second in the hammer throw (51.93 meters).
 
A biology and secondary education major, Varner also excelled in the classroom, posting a 3.44 GPA during the spring semester.
 
Shoemaker earned her third Academic All-MAC honor following a stellar senior season that saw the thrower garner Honorable Mention All-MAC recognition and USTFCCCA All-Region honors in both the hammer throw and javelin. The Plymouth, PA native ranked fourth in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the hammer throw and fifth in the javelin.
 
Shoemaker earned Second Team All-American honors in the hammer throw after placing 14th at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships with a mark of 52.36 meters. Alongside Varner, Shoemaker became one of the first outdoor hammer throw All-Americans in program history.
 
The senior finished third in the hammer throw (50.77 meters) at the AARTFC Championships after recording runner-up finishes in both the hammer throw (50.98 meters) and javelin (40.12 meters) at the MAC Outdoor Championships. Shoemaker also earned CSC Academic All-District® honors and was actively involved on campus as a recipient of the Monarch Mission Award and a member of King's SAAC and MAC SAAC.
 
An early education major, Shoemaker also excelled in the classroom, posting a perfect 4.00 GPA during the spring semester.
 
The complete Women's Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-MAC Team can be found HERE.