FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University graduate student Ryan Hunter, redshirt senior Robbie Jordan, and graduate student Jenna Walling were among a dozen student-athletes announced by Conference Carolinas as its Spring Scholar-Athlete of the Year Present by Hudl. Hunter garnered the accolade in outdoor men's track & field, while Jordan represented baseball, and Walling earned the honor for softball.

The Scholar-Athlete awards Presented by Hudl are awarded annually to one individual in each Conference Carolinas sponsored sport. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners are chosen by the Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Affairs and Awards Committee.

To be considered, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher. In addition, the nominees for the award must have been named all-conference in their sport and also chosen academic all-conference.

Hunter delivered a storybook ending to his career at Francis Marion after achieving Second-Team All-American honors with a 13th-place finish in the men's javelin at the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He also captured U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-region honors for a consecutive year in the event. He concluded his career as a two-time Conference Carolinas champion in the javelin while holding the conference meet record (66.61m) and school record (67.04m) in the event.

A native of Blythewood, S.C., Hunter recently graduated with a master's degree in business administration while maintaining a 3.40 GPA. He also earned a bachelor's degree in management at Francis Marion and held a 3.41 GPA. Hunter becomes the first-ever FMU men's track & field athlete to receive the Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor.

Jordan etched his name into the FMU Baseball record book following a four-year career with the Patriots. He set a new program mark for career wins with a 33-9 overall mark after posting an impressive 12-2 record on the mound with 77 strikeouts over 85.1 innings pitched in 2026. He tied for fourth in the country in wins and sixth in games started (16). Jordan garnered All-Conference Carolinas First-Team status while also being named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week once and receiving two Pitcher of the Week honors from the Conference Carolinas. The ace of the FMU pitching staff, he guided the program to its first-ever Super Regional after making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 seasons.

A product of Florence Christian School, Jordan is pursuing a master's degree in business administration and holds a 3.57 GPA. He received his bachelor's degree from Francis Marion in business while maintaining a 3.36 GPA. Jordan becomes the program's first-ever recipient of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

Walling was named an All-American at pitcher/utility by two organizations, including earning second-team status from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). She garnered Southeast Region Pitcher of the Year honors from the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and was the Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year in 2026. Walling posted a 27-8 pitching record with four saves, a 1.92 earned run average, and 207 strikeouts in 230.0 innings.  She is among the national leaders in victories and complete games (school-record 31).  She made 43 pitching appearances – equaling the second most in program history – and opponents batted only .231 against her.  At the place, she batted .305 with nine home runs and 55 runs batted in. She concluded her career second on the program's career wins list with an 84-18 mark, and is only the second Patriot hurler to register three 20-win seasons.

A native of Johns Island, S.C., Walling becomes the Conference Carolinas first-ever two-time winner of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor in softball after garnering the accolade in 2025. She has maintained a 4.00 GPA through her entire collegiate career, earning a bachelor's degree in biology and pursuing a master's degree in business administration. Walling was also the league's Elite 26 award winner.

The Patriot trio joins senior Tehya Dave (women's soccer) and junior Madilyn Gartner (women's volleyball) as student-athletes who have earned the major conference award in their respective sports.

      
       Ryan Hunter             Robbie Jordan              Jenna Walling