WALESKA, Ga. – University of Pikeville senior Riley Paulino was named to the 2026 all-conference team as announced on Tuesday by the AAC.
 
Paulino, an outfielder from Fife, Wash., was named second-team all-conference.
 
Paulino led the Bears with a .394 batting average on the season. He had 61 hits, 19 of which went for extra bases – 10 doubles, six triples and three home runs.
 
He scored 54 runs and drove in 31 on the season, with a startling on-base percentage of .515. Paulino also stole 17 bases in 19 attempts.
 
Paulino led the team in batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, runs, hits, triples, total bases, hit by pitches and stolen bases.
 
Joe Gagnon, a senior first baseman from Calgary, Alb., was named UPike's Champion of Character. Those honored on the Champions of Character Team were nominated by their coaches based on their leadership on and off campus, as well as their demonstration of the five core character values of the NAIA.
 
Finally, 27 Bears were named Academic All-Conference. To qualify a student-athlete must be sophomore or higher, have a minimum of 3.25 grade-point average and have completed at least one semester at their institution.
 
The Bears so honored were Jonah Adkins, Karter Andersen, Isaac Berry, Noah Brooks, Matthew Crum, Domenic DeCarlo, Cole Fowler, Gavin Fraser, Joe Gagnon, Elijah Gayhart, Garren Gledhill, Alexander Hinkle, Hayden Hollingsworth, Kaleb Humphreys, Oliver Kerns, Brody Mangold, Jacob Maniago, Shaye McTavish, Mason Melton, Connor Moody, Easton Mould, Riley Paulino, Bailee Pennington, Jackson Schroeder, Dawson Schultz, Caleb Stuck and Teague Van Dyke.