COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced Monday the selections to the 2026 RMAC Baseball All-Academic First Team with Seniors Ryder Mancuso, and Bryce Peterson being named to the top squad.
 
The RMAC All-Academic team is nominated and voted on by the leagues nine communications directors, with athletes with a 3.5 GPA or above eligible for the first team, while athletes with a 3.3 GPA or above earning a selection to the Honor Roll. Sports Information Directors are not permitted to vote for athletes from their own institution.
 
Ryder Mancuso earns back-to-back selections to the RMAC All-Academic First Team, earning an honor roll or better selection in all three possible years of his college career. The Business Cyber Security Management major accumulated a 3.856 GPA during his studies at UCCS, graduating from the program this past weekend. Mancuso pitched his way to a 4-5 record in 14 starts this spring, striking out a team high 58 batters, one shy of his career record. Mancuso's 68.2 innings of work was the most in his career, and the most on the roster, as he led the Mountain Lions rotation all season and earned him one RMAC Pitcher of the Week selection (3/10). Mancuso threw three complete games in 2026, all of which were seven inning wins, with two being by way of mercy rule.
 
Bryce Peterson earns his first RMAC All-Academic First Team selection, doing so in his only year of eligibility for academic acknowledgment after transferring to UCCS from Western Nebraska prior to his Junior season. The Business major earned an impressive 3.913 cumulative GPA during his college career. Moving to second base for the first time in his career this season, Peterson looked right at home in the middle of the diamond. Peterson recorded 83 putouts and 151 assists in 243 chances, only committing nine errors on the season. Turning 28 double plays, Peterson proved himself as one of the most valuable defenders in the country. At the plate, Peterson led the region in hits with 92, finishing the season with an impressive .423 average. He scored 65 runs, driving in another 67 runs which were both in the top 40 of Division II players, and top 10 in the South-Central Region.
 
The Mountain Lions had 17 student athletes named to the RMAC Honor Roll, which includes athletes with a 3.30 cumulative GPA or higher. The following UCCS ball players earned an Honor Roll Selection.
 
2026 RMAC BASEBALL ALL-ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL
Devon Alvarado (R-Jr. – Rio Rancho, N.M.): Business
Jacob Brown (So. – Riverside, Calif.): Business
Tyler Buchman (R-Jr. – Overland Park, Kan.): Business
Gerrit Erickson (R-Sr. – San Diego, Calif.): Communications
Jason Fink (Sr. – Gillette, Wyo.): Business
Spencer Gallimore (R-Fr. – Lompoc, Calif.): Business
Tyler Genrich (R-So. – Colorado Springs, Colo.): Business
James Harbison (R-Jr. – Parker, Colo.): Criminal Justice
Ryder Mancuso (Sr. – Palisade, Colo.): Business Cyber Security Management*
Joe McDermott (Sr. – Aurora, Colo.): Exercise Science
Nick Miszuk (Sr. – Parker, Colo.): Digital Media
Bryce Peterson (Sr. – Brighton, Colo.): Business*
Benjamin Ruckman (Sr. – Laramie, Wyo.): Exercise Science
Matthew Shipley (R-Fr. – Highlands Ranch, Colo.): Business
Ethan Steer (R-Jr. – Denton, Neb.): Business
Brett Woytek (So. – Grand Junction, Colo.): Business
Joshua Zotto (Jr. - Grand Junction, Colo.): Business
* Denotes First Team All-Academic Selection

SOCIAL
Twitter - @GoMountainLions
Instagram - @gomountainlions
Facebook – /GoMountainLions
 
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.