Stanford Student-Athletes Excel in Classroom and Competition with MPSF All-Academic Honors
Stanford University continues to demonstrate its commitment to the “student” half of the student-athlete equation. In early 2026, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) recognized a significant number of Cardinal athletes for their outstanding academic achievements, highlighting excellence across both the Artistic Swimming and Men’s Water Polo programs.
These honors aren’t handed out easily. To earn a spot on the MPSF All-Academic Team, athletes must maintain a minimum 3.00 GPA, have completed at least one full academic year at their institution, be at least a sophomore academically, and have competed in at least 50 percent of their team’s competitions during the season.
Artistic Swimming: 13 Athletes Recognized
On April 8, 2026, the MPSF announced that 13 Stanford student-athletes from the Artistic Swimming program earned All-Academic honors. The list showcases a diverse range of academic pursuits, from Bioengineering to International Relations.
The recognized athletes include:
- Seniors: Miko Begossi (Human Biology), Yujin Chang (Psychology), Ivy Davis (Science, Technology and Society), Emily Ding (Bioengineering), Yara Elian (International Relations), and Atira O’Neil (Psychology).
- Juniors: Elisa Brunel (Human Biology), Manu Pindi (Economics), and Ella Rau (Economics).
- Sophomores: Megumi Field, Audrey Kwon, Calista Liu, and Dalia Ovadia (all currently Undeclared).
Men’s Water Polo: A Dozen Scholar-Athletes
Earlier in the year, the Stanford Men’s Water Polo team saw 12 members named to the MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athletes list on January 20, 2026.
The list was headlined by veteran leadership. Fifth-year senior CJ Indart (Computer Science) earned the honor for the fourth consecutive season, while Chase McFarland (Science, Technology & Society) secured his third straight selection. The program also saw a surge of young talent entering the academic ranks, with six sophomores earning the distinction in their first year of eligibility: Botond Balogh, Ben Forer, Max Zelikov, Ryan Ohl, Will Schneider, and Orestis Zervoudakis.
Rounding out the Water Polo selections were Guido Leonardi (Computer Science), Daniel Mnatsakanian (Management Science & Engineering), Christopher Arakelian (Political Science), and West Temkin (International Relations).
Key Takeaways: Stanford’s Academic Success
- Consistent Excellence: Multiple athletes, such as CJ Indart, have maintained All-Academic status for several consecutive years.
- Diverse Disciplines: Stanford athletes are succeeding in rigorous fields including Computer Science, Bioengineering, and Management Science & Engineering.
- Early Achievement: A significant number of sophomores across both sports are meeting the high MPSF academic standards in their first year of eligibility.
Summary of MPSF All-Academic Requirements
| Requirement | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Minimum GPA | 3.00 |
| Academic Standing | At least a sophomore |
| Institutional Tenure | One full academic year completed prior to the season |
| Participation | Competed in at least 50% of team competitions |
As the 2026 academic and athletic seasons progress, these achievements underscore the ability of Stanford’s elite athletes to balance the grueling demands of high-level competition with the academic rigor of one of the world’s leading universities.