Bucknell University Athletics
Wednesday, June 10
Eugene, Ore.
10:10 p.m. (ET)/7:10 p.m. (PT)
Bucknell University
vs
NCAA National Championships
Photo by: Eamonn Ryan
ALL-AMERICAN! Wade Shomper Concludes Historic Career in Triumphant Fashion
6/10/2026 11:26:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore.- Senior shot putter Wade Shomper collected many worthy honors over his historic career: three conference crowns, First Team All-Patriot League recognition, and ownership of two school records. He surpassed all of those accomplishments by earning Second Team All-America honors Wednesday night at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Shomper finished 16th, becoming Bucknell's eighth All-American, the first since 2013, the program's fourth thrower to earn the distinction, and its first shot putter to do so.
ResultsÂ
"Wade had an incredible career and his best meets occurred in the last four to five weeks of the outdoor season during his senior year," Bucknell's head coach Kevin Donner said. "Everyone at Bucknell is very proud of our newest All-American. Coach Protzman did an outstanding job getting him to the national level this outdoor season."
"This group has been so good about setting a standard, and continuing to elevate it," throws coach Ryan Protzman said. "That starts at the top with people like Wade Shomper. He earned every bit of that All-American title."
Shomper hit 18.25m (59-10.50) in his first throw and the mark held up through a tiebreaker for 16th place and the final All-American position. He tied with Arkansas State's Menachem Chen. Both throwers' second-best mark would determine the laurel. Shomper's attempt flew 18.13m (59-5.75). Chen's try went 18.05m (59-2.75).
The opening throw placed Shomper sixth, matching his finish at the NCAA East First Round. His positioning did not last. After his second throw, Shomper had slid to 14th. It was a deep field with five personal best throws.Â
Shomper's final throw looked strong but he was called for a foul. He remained at 14th but watched two more throwers surpass his mark and knock him to 16th. Once the final results were confirmed, Shomper and Bucknell could celebrate the All-American accomplishment.
Shomper became the first Bison since Leonard Joseph in 2013 to earn All-American honors. Joseph, a fellow thrower, placed 11th in the hammer throw. Fittingly, Shomper clinched All-American honors 50 years after Thomas McLean won the 800-meter run for Bucknell's sole national title.Â
All-American is a fitting coda to Shomper's extraordinary career that likely strengthens his case for future induction into Bucknell's Hall of Fame. The shot putter concluded his Orange & Blue career as a force in the circle and in the classroom. In addition to his throwing prowess, Shomper gathered five Academic All-Patriot League honors - the most in program history.Â
"Wade's four years were like a freight train," said Protzman. "It went too fast first of all. The beginning was rocky, and looking for consistent traction. Success, but also some losses. When he got up to speed, it was game over. Owning the Patriot League from his junior outdoor season on. He didn't win at the NCAA East First Round, but he turned a lot of heads. I'm so happy that the last comp we shared together was at the track and field holy grail of the USA."
Oregon's Ben Smith, a freshman, won the national title with a collegiate leading 21.04m (69-0.50). Tennessee's JL Van Rensburg clinched second, throwing 20.33m (66-8.50) and Nebraska's Cade Moran finished third, tossing 20.21m (66-3.75).Â
Bucknell men's track & field will return in December with the customary Bison Opener but Shomper will not be competing for the first time in five years.Â
"Wade will move on, and it is a hard pill to swallow knowing he'll never compete in that jersey again," Protzman noted. "There will be echoes of "Remember when Wade..", for years to come. I already fear my first lift next fall without him in the room, but I know we have a great group of people who have watched it done the right way. The standard. Now, it's their job to find ways to grow it."
ResultsÂ
"Wade had an incredible career and his best meets occurred in the last four to five weeks of the outdoor season during his senior year," Bucknell's head coach Kevin Donner said. "Everyone at Bucknell is very proud of our newest All-American. Coach Protzman did an outstanding job getting him to the national level this outdoor season."
"This group has been so good about setting a standard, and continuing to elevate it," throws coach Ryan Protzman said. "That starts at the top with people like Wade Shomper. He earned every bit of that All-American title."
Shomper hit 18.25m (59-10.50) in his first throw and the mark held up through a tiebreaker for 16th place and the final All-American position. He tied with Arkansas State's Menachem Chen. Both throwers' second-best mark would determine the laurel. Shomper's attempt flew 18.13m (59-5.75). Chen's try went 18.05m (59-2.75).
The opening throw placed Shomper sixth, matching his finish at the NCAA East First Round. His positioning did not last. After his second throw, Shomper had slid to 14th. It was a deep field with five personal best throws.Â
Shomper's final throw looked strong but he was called for a foul. He remained at 14th but watched two more throwers surpass his mark and knock him to 16th. Once the final results were confirmed, Shomper and Bucknell could celebrate the All-American accomplishment.
Shomper became the first Bison since Leonard Joseph in 2013 to earn All-American honors. Joseph, a fellow thrower, placed 11th in the hammer throw. Fittingly, Shomper clinched All-American honors 50 years after Thomas McLean won the 800-meter run for Bucknell's sole national title.Â
All-American is a fitting coda to Shomper's extraordinary career that likely strengthens his case for future induction into Bucknell's Hall of Fame. The shot putter concluded his Orange & Blue career as a force in the circle and in the classroom. In addition to his throwing prowess, Shomper gathered five Academic All-Patriot League honors - the most in program history.Â
"Wade's four years were like a freight train," said Protzman. "It went too fast first of all. The beginning was rocky, and looking for consistent traction. Success, but also some losses. When he got up to speed, it was game over. Owning the Patriot League from his junior outdoor season on. He didn't win at the NCAA East First Round, but he turned a lot of heads. I'm so happy that the last comp we shared together was at the track and field holy grail of the USA."
Oregon's Ben Smith, a freshman, won the national title with a collegiate leading 21.04m (69-0.50). Tennessee's JL Van Rensburg clinched second, throwing 20.33m (66-8.50) and Nebraska's Cade Moran finished third, tossing 20.21m (66-3.75).Â
Bucknell men's track & field will return in December with the customary Bison Opener but Shomper will not be competing for the first time in five years.Â
"Wade will move on, and it is a hard pill to swallow knowing he'll never compete in that jersey again," Protzman noted. "There will be echoes of "Remember when Wade..", for years to come. I already fear my first lift next fall without him in the room, but I know we have a great group of people who have watched it done the right way. The standard. Now, it's their job to find ways to grow it."
Players Mentioned
Throws
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