Willard Caps Historic Year with NAIA All-American Recognition

HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Owen Willard's record-breaking season now comes with national recognition.

The Huntington second baseman was named an NAIA Third Team All-American, as announced by the national office yesterday afternoon, following a dominant spring that helped power the Foresters to one of the best seasons in program history.

A Purdue Fort Wayne transfer, Willard made an immediate impact this past spring. He claimed the team batting title with a .383 average and led the Foresters with 74 hits, including 40 for extra bases, 19 home runs, 153 total bases, 57 RBI and 60 runs scored.

His 19 homers and 153 total bases both set new Huntington single-season records, while his power helped HU establish a new program record with 73 home runs as a team.

Defensively, Willard was just as steady at second base, posting a .947 fielding percentage and turning 25 double plays.

Behind Willard and a loaded Forester lineup, HU set new program records for wins with 39, RBI with 409, runs with 466 and runs per game at 8.79. Huntington finished 39-14, placed second in the Crossroads League at 27-9 and advanced to the NAIA National Championship for the first time since 2019.

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. Huntington has a top quartile ranking in the 2026 U.S. News Best Regional Universities Midwest Rankings.