RIVER FOREST, ILL. –  With game one of the 2026 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament completed, the All-Conference accolades have been announced with eight Cougars writing their name on the list. Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.), Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.), Kyle Connelly (New Lenox, Ill.), Cam Buckley (New Lenox, Ill.), Brendan Holloway (Vernon Hills, Ill.), Dom Owens (Frankfurt, Ill.), Matthew Licardi (Peoria, Ariz.), and Ryan Renella (Bartlett, Ill.) all secured their spot on the list.

 
FIRST TEAM
B. Mahler completed the clean sweep on career accolades, picking up his fourth All-Conference nod while being named the 2026 NACC Position Player of the Year. This season B. Mahler had a standout year leading the Cougars in batting average (.473), slugging percentage (.900), hits (71), doubles (14), home runs (16), RBIs (66), and on base percentage (.667). In addition to leading the Cougars, B. Mahler leads the NACC in slugging percentage, on base percentage, RBIs, and home runs. B. Mahler collected NACC Position Player of the Week honors three different times throughout the season including the first week of the season and the final week of the season. In the final week of the regular season, B. Mahler picked up eight RBIs in the week, bringing his season total to league-leading 66 entering the NACC Tournament, breaking a CUC program record. B. Mahler also hit three home runs in the final week of the regular season and sits on 16 for the season, which is second all-time for a single season in CUC and NACC history. His 16 home runs also brings him up to third in the nation in single-season home runs and sixth in the nation in single-season RBIs. As the primary catcher for the Cougars, B. Mahler was responsible for 166 putouts and 15 assists with no errors on the year while catching nine runners stealing.

J. Mahler earned his second consecutive NACC All-Conference First Team recognition after having a stud senior season. His dominant season at the plate saw him batting .398 while launching 66 hits, 14 home runs, and 49 RBIs. He leads the team in OPS (1.196) and runs (52). J. Mahler earned NACC Position Player of the Week early in April after hitting back-to-back home runs in the win over Benedictine. Seeing time at both second and third base this year, J. Mahler was responsible for 77 assists and 27 putouts while helping to turn 10 double plays. He notched five multi-home run games this season and was responsible for the senior day walkoff victory over Edgewood University.  This season, J. Mahler has gone back-and-forth atop the home run leaders and currently sits second in the NACC and eighth in the nation for single-season home runs with 14 while sitting third in the Cougar record book. 
 
SECOND TEAM
Connelly earned his first NACC All-Conference award after a strong sophomore campaign, serving as the primary closer for the Cougars this season. He posted a 2.96 ERA in his 17 appearances with 23 strikeouts recorded. Connelly made the most appearances of any Cougars on the mound and closed out the season with a 5-2 record and six saves, ranking him seventh all-time in the Cougar record book for single season saves. Connelly posted a team best 1.11 WHIP while only allowing eight earned runs. He held his opponents to a .202 batting average against him in his 24.1 innings pitched.

Buckley earned his first NACC All-Conference accolade as the star centerfielder for the Cougars this season, starting and appearing in all 39 games. The junior from New Lenox posted a .340 batting average while collecting 54 hits, 49 runs, 32 stolen bases, and seven home runs while swiping 22 stolen bases. Buckley ranks second in the NACC in stolen bases, fourth in runs scored, 14^th in total hits, and 11^th in home runs. In the field, Buckley made 100 putouts with only two errors.
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Holloway earned his first All-Conference accolade in his senior season while posting the fourth best batting average on the team with a .349. Holloway made 27 starts this season in left field where he made 39 putouts with one error. At the plate, Holloway collected 38 hits and 16 RBIs while launching four doubles and collected nine stolen bases. He finished the regular season with an on base percentage of .463, ranking him 15^th in the NACC.

Owens picked up his first All-Conference honor in his final season after slugging .402 and launching a career-best 26 total hits including three home runs and his first career triple against Rockford University. Owens added on 20 RBIs on the season including a three-run homer in his last at bat on his home field in the sweep over Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). Owens also added on four sacrifice flies on the year, ranking him seventh in the NACC. Though earning his spot on the All-Conference list as a designated hitter, Owens saw 16 appearances behind the dish for the Cougars, where he collected 100 putouts and 11 assists with only three errors. He caught seven base runners stealing and provided a sturdy backstop for his pitchers.

Licardi made his first appearance on the All-Conference list in his first season with the Cougars. The freshman from Arizona served as strong starting pitcher in his freshman season, throwing 41.1 innings in his 11 appearances. Of those 11 appearances, five were starts where he posted a clean 4-0 record. Licardi had the fourth best ERA on the season with a 3.70 with a WHIP of 1.38. He collected 23 total strikeouts on the year, including his career-best six strikeouts against North Park University. Licardi held his opponents to a .290 batting average against him and only allowed 17 earned runs. Licardi ranks 14^th in the NACC in ERA and 15^th in wins.

Renella made his second appearance on the NACC All-Conference list in as many years as a starting pitcher for the Cougars. The sophomore posed a 4.04 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP while collected a career-high 11 strikeouts against St. Norbert College. He led the Cougars on the mound this season, pitching 49 innings with 44 total strikeouts and posting a 2-3 record. Renella started and appeared in nine games on the mound for CUC while holding his opponents to a .268 batting average against him. Renella ranks 10^th in the NACC in strikeouts looking, 16^th in innings pitched, 16th in ERA, 17th in opposing batting average, and 19^th in total batters struck out.

UP NEXT
The Cougars fell in game one of the NACC Tournament and will face elimination tomorrow morning at the 10:00 am game. They will face the loser of the #7 Edgewood vs #4 Illinois Tech game in a do or die matchup. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com.