The College Sports Communicators (CSC) has announced its Academic All-America Teams for the 2025-26 cross country and track & field seasons and Dordt's Shelby Buwalda was named to the second team.

• CSC Release | PDF

CSC Academic All-Americans are voted on by CSC membership after nominations. Nominees must be at least a sophomore in academic standing, maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and meet minimum games played standards.  

Buwalda completed the 2025-26 track and field season with four All-American performances, three at the indoor championships in March and one at the outdoor championships in May. She finished sixth in the 600m and claimed podium finishes in both the 4x400 (7th) and 4x800 (4th) relays in Gainesville, Fla. at the Indoor Championships. Buwalda followed her outstanding indoor season with an All-American finish (4th place) in the 4x800 relay at the Outdoor championships in Asheville, N.C.

A total of 20 student-athletes earned the prestigious Athletic and Academic honor, 10 first team selections and 10 named to the secon team. Buwalda earns the CSC postseason honor for the first time, joining eight other first time selections on the second team.

Buwalda concluded her Defender career as a 12-time NAIA All-American, five time GPAC Champion and a Drake Relays Champion. She also holds the outdoor school record as a member of the 4x800 relay.

• All-American finishes (12):
  • 4x800 relay - 4th place, 2026 NAIA Outdoor
  • 600m - 6th place, 2026 NAIA Indoor
  • 4x400 relay - 7th place, 2026 NAIA Indoor
  • 4x800 relay - 4th place, 2026 NAIA Indoor
  • 4x800 relay - 3rd place, 2025 NAIA Outdoor
  • 600m - 8th place, 2025 NAIA Indoor
  • 4x800 relay - 3rd place, 2025 NAIA Indoor
  • 4x400 relay - 8th place, 2024 NAIA Outdoor
  • 600m - 6th place, 2024 NAIA Indoor
  • 4x400 relay - 7th place, 2023 NAIA Outdoor
  • 4x800 relay - 3rd place, 2023 NAIA Outdoor
  • 4x800 relay - 2nd place, 2023 NAIA Indoor
• GPAC Champion (5):
  • 800m - 2026 Outdoor
  • 600m - 2026 Indoor
  • 4x400 relay - 2025 Outdoor
  • 4x800 relay - 2024 Indoor
  • 4x800 relay - 2023 Outdoor
• Drake Relays Champion (1):
  • 4x800 Relay - 2025

Buwalda graduated from Dordt last May with a degree in Biology / Public Health.