COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Menlo College Athletics Sports Performance Department proudly announces that eight Oaks have been named National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year. This prestigious honor recognizes their dedication, perseverance, and exceptional work ethic both in and out of the weight room, qualities that have played a vital role in their athletic achievements and overall development.

"This recognition is a direct reflection of the discipline and commitment these student-athletes bring every single day," said Victor Brankovich, Assistant AD Student Athlete Health, Wellness and Performance. "Their consistency, resilience, and team-first mindset set the standard for what it means to excel, not just in sport, but in preparation and character."

 

NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year

Donald Holliday - Men's Soccer 

Defender 

Senior 

Donald Holiday arrived at Menlo College as a transfer student and immediately embraced the Sports Performance program's guiding principle: "Trust the Process." From day one, Donald demonstrated a genuine commitment to his development — buying into the strength and power training framework and excelling in the speed development program. Most notably, he showed consistent, measurable improvement in speed across his time at Menlo College, a testament to his dedication and coachability. What set Donald apart, however, was his consistency off the field. Once he established his routine around nutrition and recovery, he became a model for what deliberate, disciplined habits look like at the collegiate level. On game days, Donald was regularly among the first athletes in the facility — not because he was asked to, but because he understood the value of preparation. He applied the nutritional knowledge gained through the Sports Performance program in meaningful ways, whether that was taking the initiative to prepare his own recovery smoothies, staying on top of his vitamins and supplementation, or dedicating personal time on weekends to recovery work. That level of ownership and consistency paid dividends for the program. Over three seasons, Donald contributed to a team record of 31 wins, 10 losses, and 8 draws, highlighted by elite-level defensive performance. His growth as an athlete directly reflects the kind of holistic development — physical, nutritional, and habitual — that the NSCA All-American Award is designed to recognize. Donald Holiday exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete committed to the full process of performance excellence. ~Victor Brankovich

Macy Swartz - Women's Soccer 

Defender 

Junior 

Macy is consistent in the weight room and on the field. She's on time, holds herself accountable to the standard set by the team, and holds her teammates to that same standard. She is consistently pushing herself and her teammates to be their absolute best. ~Michael Milek

Milan Pineda - Women's Soccer 

Defender 

Senior 

Milan is coming back from a serious lower body injury that required surgery. She has been consistent and diligent throughout the whole rehab process. Even while rehabbing, she has been by the team's side, cheering them all, participating as much as she could, and did not allow her situation to affect her team. As her rehab progressed, she continued her hard work to get back on the field, pushing herself and her teammates to get better. ~Michael Milek

Kanani Packer - Women's Volleyball 

Libero 

Senior 

Kanani Packer arrived at Menlo College as a freshman with an immediate understanding of what it would take to earn her place on the court. From her very first days in the weight room, she embraced the importance of building strength, power, and speed — recognizing that her development as an athlete depended on the work she put in away from the volleyball court. That maturity and intentionality, rare in a first-year student-athlete, set the tone for an exceptional four-year journey. Over her time with the Menlo College Sports Performance program, Kanani demonstrated steady, consistent improvement across every major performance KPI tracked. Her relative strength — one of the most telling indicators of an athlete's true physical development — skyrocketed year over year, reflecting not just her physical growth but her intellectual investment in the process. She didn't just show up; she understood why the work mattered and applied that understanding with remarkable discipline. What made Kanani truly stand out was her impact beyond her own performance. She was an exceptional teammate and a daily source of motivation in the weight room, pushing those around her to match her intensity and standards. Her presence elevated the culture of the entire program. Over four years, she embodied everything the NSCA All-American Award is designed to honor — relentless work ethic, measurable performance growth, and a commitment to making everyone around her better. Kanani Packer is the definition of a complete student-athlete, and it is with great pride that we nominate her for this distinction. ~Victor Brankovich

Frida Schmidt - Women's Basketball

Forward

Senior

Frida shows up every single day to workouts with a great attitude and gets after it each day. She has dealt with multiple injuries in the past and still comes determined to become the best version of herself. She is a great leader in the weight room who doesn't make excuses. ~Kevin Attard

Zoe Carrillo - Women's Basketball 

Center

Sophomore

This athlete consistently shows up with energy and focus. She always pushes boundaries for herself and her teammates. She is coachable and fun to work with because if her positive attitude and desire to get better. ~Caroline Howard

Garrett Hockman - Men's Volleyball

Middle Blocker 

Junior 

Garrett shows a level of dedication that is unwavering and commendable. He consistently makes the right choices- even when unpopular. He is always in communication with the performance staff to make sure he is in alignment with what the program standard. Garrett shows a level of selfawareness and reflection that allows him to get the most out of his training. It is clear that Garrett's motivation combined with his discipline set him up to train, recover, and play at the highest level. ~Tatum Abram

Sydney Costello - Softball

Softball 

Sophomore 

Sydney displays a willingness to endure adversity in order to grow as an athlete. She does more than what she is asked and continues to challenge herself regardless of what the day may entail. She rises to her own standard instead of letting the environment dictate the intensity of her effort. Sydney displays the pursuit of excellence within her vulnerability and willingness to fail the first time to succeed the next. ~Tatum Abram