GREENWOOD, IN – College Sports Communicators has selected eight Missouri S&T athletes to the 2024 Academic All-District team. The honorees are CJ Wiggins (Yuma, AZ/Gila Ridge), Bentley Hart (Brookland, AR/Brookland), Justin Gniedziejko (Chicago, IL/Taft), Logan Jacobson (Hillsboro, MO/St. Pius X), Cameron Sturgell (Lamar, MO/Lamar), Austin Mahoney (St. Peters, MO/Fort Zumwalt South), Justis Braden (Liberty, MO/Liberty North), and Rusty Finona (Marina, CA/Seaside).

The Miner defense leads the group with four honorees: Hart, Gniedziejko, Sturgell, and Finona. All-GLVC First-Teamer Bentley Hart (Brookland, AR/Brookland) ranked third in the conference with 6.5 sacks, a total that helped move him up to ninth on S&T's career sacks list. Justin Gniedziejko (Chicago, IL/Taft), an All-GLVC Second-Teamer, recorded 58 tackles last season, including a career-high 13 in the game against Quincy on September 21st. All-GLVC Honorable Mention Cameron Sturgell (Lamar, MO/Lamar) had an impressive first full season with the Miners, ranking 15th in the GLVC for tackles and earning a Player of the Week award for his standout performance against William Jewell, which included a 22-yard pick-six. Rusty Finona (Marina, CA/Seaside) capped off his senior year with 40 tackles and four pass breakups.

CJ Wiggins (Yuma, AZ/Gila Ridge), Austin Mahoney (St. Peters, MO/Fort Zumwalt South), and Justis Braden (Liberty, MO/Liberty North) represent the offense. Wiggins stood out as one of the top receivers in the GLVC, ranking third with 66.5 yards per game, earning First-Team All-GLVC honors. Mahoney provided solid protection for quarterback Tyler Gioia (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison) as the Miners' right tackle. Braden, the Miners' TE1, finished the season with 215 yards and two touchdowns on 18 receptions and was also named S&T's recipient of the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award.

Logan Jacobson (Hillsboro, MO/St. Pius X) is the sole honoree from special teams, earning a spot after being named All-GLVC Second Team. He set a school record with an average of 41.4 yards per punt this season.

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