Rocky Hansen Named ACC Men’s Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year

1/30/2026 2:01:00 PM | Cross Country

Overall, 15 Demon Deacons were selected to the All-ACC Academic Team, including five from the women’s team and 10 from the men’s squad.

By: KJ Smith

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Fifteen members of the Wake Forest cross country program were selected to the All-ACC academic team, highlighted by junior Rocky Hansen being named ACC Men's Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year, the conference announced on Friday afternoon.

Hansen became the second Demon Deacon to earn ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year honors and the first since Zach Facioni earned the honor in 2022.

This marks the second yearly award for Hansen as the Hendersonville, N.C., native was named the ACC Men's Cross Country Performer of the Year following an incredible junior campaign, becoming the first Demon Deacon to earn the honor in school history.

Overall, Hansen was one of two Deacs to earn All-American, All-Region and All-ACC honors as he recorded a national runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, while also securing first place finishes at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship and the ACC Cross Country Championships.

Additionally, Hansen secured a spot on Team USA at the World Cross Country Championships after taking second place at the USATF Cross Country Championships.

Rocky Hansen 2025 Honors

2025 ACC Men's Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year
2025 World Athletics Cross Country Championships Qualifier
2025 National Individual Runner-Up
2025 All-American
2025 All-Southeast Region
2025 NCAA Southeast Regional Champion
2025 NCAA Southeast Regional Individual Champion
2025 ACC Cross Country Individual Champion
2025 All-ACC

Along with Hansen, nine other members of the men's cross country team were selected to the All-ACC academic team, including senior Paul Specht, redshirt juniors Bryce Gilmore, Joe O'Brien and Daniel Winter, juniors Hunter Jones and Charlie Sprott, sophomore JoJo Jourdon and redshirt freshmen Corey Campbell and Grant Morgenfeld.

Meanwhile, five members of the women's squad were named to the All-ACC academic team, including seniors Mackenzie Hart and Elizabeth Whaley, juniors Angelina Perez and Brooke Wilson and sophomore Carlita Kaliher.

Of note, Hansen, Jourdon, Perez, Whaley and Wilson on the women's side secured their second All-ACC academic honors of their careers. Meanwhile, O'Brien is now one of four Demon Deacons on the men's side to earn All-ACC academic honors at least three times in their careers, joining Garrett Drogosch (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), Alex Rose (2012, 2013, 2014) and Zach Facioni (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022).

2025 Wake Forest All-ACC Academic Team Selections
Women