Waterville, ME – The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) announced today that SUNY Cobleskill senior catcher Mackenzie Wendelken (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane) has been named the 2025 NAC Softball Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as voted on by the league's coaches.

The NAC Senior Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes one graduating senior per sport who has demonstrated excellence both academically and athletically while serving as a role model on the field and in the classroom. Honorees exemplify the NAC's core values: excellence, integrity, equity, diversity, inclusion, and well-being.

A team captain, Wendelken becomes the first player in program history to receive this prestigious honor. She will graduate this spring with two bachelor's degrees—one in Business Administration (B.B.A.) and another in Cybersecurity (B.T.)—completing both in just three years. A standout student, she has been named to the Dean's List in all six semesters, was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society in spring 2024, and joined the National Society of Leadership and Success in 2025. She is also a three-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and a two-time NAC All-Academic Team selection.

Head Softball Coach Morgan Flamholtz praised Wendelken for her dedication and leadership.

"Mackenzie being named Senior Scholar-Athlete is a tremendous achievement and a testament to her hard work," said Flamholtz. "This award hasn't come easy for her. She's earned two degrees while helping rebuild our program. She transferred in three years ago, right as I started, and has been a pillar for us ever since. She's been a leader in every sense—on and off the field."

Wendelken's impact on the field was just as impressive. She earned her second all-conference nod this spring, being named to the First Team All-NAC after a stellar senior season. Her performance helped lead Cobleskill to a historic year, setting a new program record with 22 wins, capturing their first-ever NAC West Division regular season title with a perfect 12–0 record, and reaching the NAC Championship round for the first time, finishing as runner-up.

Behind the plate and in the batter's box, Wendelken was a force. She hit .376 with 38 hits, 28 runs scored, 14 doubles, and 32 RBIs. She also posted a .519 on-base percentage and a .515 slugging percentage, while anchoring the defense with 98 putouts, 15 assists, and a .983 fielding percentage.