via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
DALLAS, Texas – Oregon Tech catcher Tyler Horner received the highest honor for a collegiate student-athlete, as the junior was named College Sports Communicators NAIA Baseball Academic All-American of the Year.
The award is selected as part of the prestigious Academic All-America team – as Horner becomes the first-ever Hustlin’ Owl to win the award and becomes the first-ever two-time first-team Academic All-American.
Horner, from Twin Falls, Idaho, carries a perfect 4.00 grade point average in mechanical engineering – while on the diamond, has helped Tech to 3-straight 30-win seasons.
He had one of the more prolific years in program history in 2024, narrowly missing the Cascade Conference triple-crown – ranking second in the league with a .394 batting average, while leading the circuit with 16 home runs and 59 RBI. Horner was previously named CCC Player of the Year and named an NBCA NAIA first-team All-American.
The award is selected by a panel of sports communicators across the country and is based on both athletic and scholastic achievement.
Horner will advance to the NAIA Academic All-American of the Year ballot, with the award to be announced later this month. He joins Kalia Mick (2024 softball), Danielle De Castro (2020 track) and Meagan Webber (2002 softball) as OIT athletes who have earned the honor.