NEWS | College Sports Communicators AAA women's XCTF presser

Austin, Texas----Wingate University women's track and field thrower Amber Lawless ('26, Perth, Western Australia) is an Academic All-America® second team selection, College Sports Communicators (CSC) officials announce this week. Lawless earns CSC Academic All-America® laurels for the second consecutive season. She was a third-team pick in 2025.
 
An elementary education major, Lawless graduated with a perfect 4.000 GPA during Wingate's May commencement exercises. In her four years as a Bulldog, Wingate has won eight South Atlantic Conference championships with four in indoor track and four in outdoor track. A 2026 NCAA second team indoor All-American, Lawless has four SAC individual shot put championships in her career. She has nine SAC podium finishes with five during the outdoor season and four during the indoor campaign.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate University throws coach Danielle Crawford
 
"Amber Lawless was absolutely amazing to work with. She was extremely hard working both in the circle and in the classroom. I know she will carry the same dedication into the work force with her. I look forward to seeing what she can do!"
 
The Amber Lawless file
'26 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, South Atlantic Conference women's track and field
 
Academics
 
- Elementary education major with a 4.000 cumulative GPA
- Graduated summa cum laude with University honors in May
- Named College Sports Communicators Academic All-America twice (2025, 2026)
- Won SAC Elite 23 Award for women's indoor track and field twice (2025, 2026)
- Completed a two-year research study in the WU Thayer School of Education
- Focused research on teaching elementary-level phonics across dialect differences
 
Athletics
 
- In '26 NCAA indoors, she earned second team All-American in shot put
- Lawless won both SAC indoor and outdoor shot put titles her last two seasons
- Qualified for '26 NCAA outdoor national championships as well (shot put)
- All-South Atlantic Conference and All-Southeast Region in shot put
- Also earned All-SAC and All-SER distinction in the outdoor discus throw
- WU won four SAC indoor and four SAC outdoor team titles during her career
- Individually, nine career SAC podium finishes (five outdoors, four indoors)
- Season-best shot put marks: 15.01 meters (SAC indoors); 14.72 meters (Duke Invite)
 
Service
 
- In her home country, Lawless served as a mentor and coach
- She volunteered with youth T&F athletes from ages four to 17
- One Day, One Dog (ODOD) Day of Service in 2024 and 2025
- WUXCTF ran a field day for East Elementary School as part of ODOD
 
Wingate Academic All-America® notes

- With Lawless' selection, Wingate has 170 Academic All-America® selections all-time, with 161 since Jan. 1, 2000 (Wingate Academic All-America® history)
 
- The Bulldogs lead all North Carolina colleges and universities with their 161 Academic All-America® picks since Jan. 1, 2000
 
- Duke University is second on the aforementioned N.C. Academic All-America® list, while UNC Chapel Hill is third
 
- Wingate's 170 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among South Atlantic Conference schools
 
- Lawless gives WUXCTF 25 lifetime Academic All-America® awards (14 women, 11 men)
 
- Two WUXCTF women have received Academic All-America® three times each
 
- Amber Hines ('09) and Alyssa Johnson ('17) both achieved the AAA triple crown
 
College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® program

The College Sports Communicators (CSC) began the distinguished Academic All-America® program in 1952, and since then, have recognized thousands of deserving student-athletes from numerous sports across all divisions with these elite Academic All-America® scholar-athlete honors.
 
Currently, the CSC sponsors Academic All-America® programs for men's and women's soccer, football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's track and field/cross country. Many other sports are eligible through the at-large program.

The Academic All-America® program is comprised of divisional teams for NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Added for the 2018-19 academic year was a separate at-large program for two-year schools and Canadian institutions. Members at two-year schools, Canadian institutions and any other institution not affiliated with the NCAA or NAIA nominate their student-athletes in all sports during the spring nomination period.

For more information about the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® teams program, please visit AcademicAllAmerica.com or the Academic All-America® home page on collegesportscommunicators.com.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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