Red Rock Conference announces volleyball, cross country all-academic and all-conference selections

The Red Rock Conference has announced its all-academic selections for the 2026 volleyball and cross country seasons, along with its volleyball all-conference team, recognizing student-athletes from several area schools for their achievements in the classroom and on the court.

Among the schools represented were Red Rock Central, Murray County Central, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Westbrook-Walnut Grove.

Volleyball all-academic

RTR led the four area schools with six volleyball players named to the all-academic team: Laken Baartman, Brynn Borresen, Dru Ellefson, Makenna Hesse, Paisley Thooft and Sara Thooft.

Westbrook-Walnut Grove had four selections in Sydney Foster, Hadley Jenniges, Myah Maznio and Leah VanDeWiele.

Murray County Central had three players recognized: Katherine Miller, Danyel Neilson and Mikayla Reith. Red Rock Central also had three selections in Jadyn Beranek, Kendra Schroeder and Paige Wondercheck.

Volleyball all-conference

RTR had five players named to the Red Rock Conference All-Conference team: Baartman, Borresen, Ellefson, Paisley Thooft and Sara Thooft. All five are seniors.

Westbrook-Walnut Grove had four selections, including seniors Foster, Jenniges and VanDeWiele, along with junior Natasha Wahl.

MCC had two players earn all-conference honors in junior Reese Gilbertson and senior Erynn Rohrer. Red Rock Central senior Natasha Erickson was also named to the team.

RTR finished first in the conference standings with a 9-0 record, followed by WWG at 8-1 and MCC at 7-2. Red Rock Central finished with a 2-7 conference record.

Cross country all-academic

The cross country all-academic team included three runners from WWG: Jackson Jenniges, Miranda Mischke and Evelyn Rentschler.

MCC also had three selections in Alexander Betz, Wesley Hause and Beckett Stelter.

The Mountain Lake Area/Red Rock Central program had five runners recognized: Matthew Bartsch, Katie Johnson, Isabelle Penner, Joseph Torres and Celia Vogel.

Laiken Farris of Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda also earned all-academic recognition.

A total of 13 runners were named to the cross country all-academic team, while the volleyball all-academic selections included 32 student-athletes.

The conference’s all-academic selections recognize student-athletes for their work in the classroom and their participation in fall sports.