ANNVILLE, Pa. – Five Widener student-athletes have been named 2023 Spring Academic All-MAC as announced by the conference office on Thursday morning.
 
Of the 115 named, Alex Kristeller, Alden Littlefield, Samuel Knowles of men's track and field, Maria Muzzarelli of women's track and field, and Andrew Yates of baseball have been named to the team.
 
The Academic All-MAC teams recognize the top student-athletes both in the classroom and in athletic competition during the 2023 spring semester. The MAC athletic communications directors nominate and vote on the Academic All-MAC teams, giving 50 percent weight on both academic success and athletic success.
 
Alex Kristeller, senior hammer thrower, threw to National Champion marks at the 2023 NCAA Championships. Throughout the season Kristeller ranked first in Division III and ended his athletic career with a 63.64-meter throw. In the classroom, Kristeller was a robotics engineering major and graduated with numerous MAC Academic Honor Roll selections.
 
Graduate student, Alden Littlefield, concluded his athletic career at the 2023 NCAA Championships along with Kristeller. Littlefield, a primary shot put thrower, took to the circle in the hammer throw instead and set new personal best marks. Littlefield's 60.07-meter throw earned him a National Runner-Up spot and an All-American honor. In the classroom, Littlefield graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and was named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll numerous times.
 
Samuel Knowles, a sophomore sprinter, topped his 2023 outdoor season with a first-place finish at the MAC Championships in the 200-meter dash where he sprinted to a 21.58. Knowles also took gold in the 400-meter with his 47.55. Knowles' first place in the 200 earned him an NCAA Championship invite where he finished in the top 20 in the nation. Knowles is currently studying business management.

Maria Muzzarelli, a sophomore sprinter, stood out at the AARTFC Championships following top three finishes at the MAC Championships. At AARTFC Championships, Muzzarelli took gold in the 100-meter dash where she clocked a 12.19. Muzzarelli finished her indoor and outdoor season with a trip to the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships. Currently, Muzzarelli is studying biology/pre-occupational therapy and has been named to the outdoor MAC Academic Honor Roll twice.
 
Andrew Yates, a senior infielder, finished his athletic career with a 2023 MAC Commonwealth First Team nomination and a 2023 ABCA/Rawlings Region 5 All-Region Team pick. Yates became tied with Widener's all-time doubles in a season with 17. Yates also accumulated 24 runs with six being home runs. Yates also batted in 35 runners and held a .982 fielding percentage. In the classroom, Yates graduated with a criminal justice degree and four consecutive MAC Academic Honor Rolls.