FAIRFAX, Va. – Six George Mason student-athletes have been named to the 2025-26 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Academic All-State team for their efforts in competition and in the classroom.

Georgi Zahariev (Men's Volleyball) earns his second honor, while Kenndy Drish (Track & Field), Kaitlyn Bestick (Women's Lacrosse), Tate Anderson (Swim & Dive), Deniz Okyay (Men's Tennis), and Malachi DuVall (Wrestling) are first-time honorees.

To qualify, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore with a minimum grade point average of 3.25. VaSID selected 215 student-athletes for All-Academic honors across 36 schools in Virginia.

Kennedy Drish
Grad | Fishers, Ind.
Major: Forensic Science | Women's Track and Field

• A-10 Indoor & Outdoor Champion
• A-10 Indoor & Outdoor All-Academic
• NCAA Regional Qualifier
• NCAA National Qualifier

Georgi Zaharlev
Sr. | Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Major: Computer Science/Cyber Security | Men's Volleyball

• EIVA All-Academic Team  
• 2026 Provost Scholar (Three-year recipient)

Kaitlyn Bestick
Gr. | Fredericksburg, Va.
Major: Political Science | Women's Lacrosse

• A-10 All-Academic Team
• 2026 Provost Scholar (Three-year recipient)

Tate Anderson 
Sr. | Fuquay-Varina, NC,
Major: Clinical Science | Men's Swimming 

• A-10 All-Academic Team
• CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-American

Deniz Okyay
Jr. | Ankara, Turkey
Major: Computer Science | Men's Tennis

• A-10 All-Academic Team
• A-10 All-Confrence Second Team

Malachi DuVall 
Gr. | Centre Hall, Pa.
Major: Finance | Wrestling

• NCAA Qualifier
• NWCA All-American (Three-year recipient)
• All-MAC Academic Team