Originally posted on Cyclones.com.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa farmers and Iowa State student-athletes exhibit many of the same qualities - hard work, commitment and integrity - as they strive for excellence both as professionals and in competition.

Embracing these qualities is a joint goal for Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa State Athletics Department, and each year 16 Cyclone student-athletes (one from each sport) are honored for their dedication on the Farm Strong Squad.

"We are proud to partner with Iowa Farm Bureau in the selection of our 2024-25 Farm Strong team, " Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. "Our Farm Strong team members are committed to achieving academic and athletic excellence while consistently displaying many of the same values and attributes that Iowans around our great state display on a daily basis."

Brent Johnson, Iowa Farm Bureau president, is proud to announce this year's team.

"These collegiate athletes demonstrate remarkable dedication to every aspect of their lives, " Johnson said. "Their determination, grit and collaborative spirit reflect the heart of our farming communities. That's what Farm Strong represents; the strength to overcome challenges and commitment to continuous improvement. We honor these athletes who live by these principles and motivate us all to reach higher."

The Farm Strong squad will be recognized during the year via in-game recognitions, a mural on the concourse at Hilton Coliseum, the Iowa State Athletics website, social media and the annual Cyclone Scholar-Athlete Banquet.


The 2024-25 honorees include….

Angelina Allen, Softball, Moreno Valley, Calif.

Allen recorded a historical 2023 season by being named a Second Team All-American, making her just the fourth softball player in school history to earn the honor. Allen slashed a ridiculous .435/.489/.759 and had a team-high 74 hits with a whopping 22 doubles to go along with 11 homers – both of which led the team. Her 22 doubles are the second-most in a single season in school history. Across 160 career games, Allen is hitting .335 with 162 knocks and has tallied 94 RBI. Off the field, Allen has also been dominant, receiving a pair of Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honors.


Josie Bergstrom-Te Slaa, Gymnastics, Boyden, Iowa

Bergstrom-Te Slaa competed in all 15 meets for the Cyclones in 2024, performing on both the vault and beam. She tallied career-high scores on both vault (9.925) and beam (9.9) during her junior campaign and finished 2024 ranked as a top-50 gymnast on vault. In total, Bergstrom-Te Slaa claimed five event titles in 2024 – all on vault. She's competed in all 40 possible collegiate meets for the Cyclones and has improved her scores each season. A two-time Academic All-Big 12 First-Team member, Bergstrom-Te Slaa was a CSC Academic All-District honoree in 2024.


Carley Caughron, Swimming and Diving, Waterloo, Iowa

One of Iowa State's top performers at the 2024 Big 12 Championships, Caughron recorded 49 points to tie the third-highest single-meet point total in program history while setting a new personal best in the 100 freestyle. She finished the 2023-24 season with 13 top-three finishes. Caughron is also just as dedicated in the classroom, recognized with Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honors each of the last two seasons.


Cody Chittum, Wrestling, Cleveland, Tenn.

Chittum qualified for the 2024 NCAA Championships at 157 pounds in his true freshman season and posted a 16-7 record. He registered 10 bonus-point victories (five tech falls, five major decisions) and was the Big 12 runner-up. Chittum tallied 60 takedowns on the season while allowing 19. His highest ranked win of the season was a 9-5 decision over eventual national finalist No. 4 Jacori Teemer of Arizona State. Chittum was on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the Spring of 2024.


Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn, Women's Golf, Chonburi, Thailand

The reigning Big 12 Champion, Chul-Ak-Sorn has turned in one of the best starts to a career in Iowa State women's golf history. An All-American as a freshman, Chul-Ak-Sorn has a 71.24 career stroke average in 63 rounds played, the best in program history. Her 70.56 stroke average as a freshman is the best in program history, while her 71.85 as a sophomore is the second-lowest in program history. In just two years, she is one of seven Cyclones in school history with multiple tournament victories.


Beau Freyler, Football, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Freyler played and started all 13 games in 2023 and went on to finish with 107 tackles, becoming the first Cyclone to reach 100 tackles in a season since 2017. He also had three interceptions and was named Second Team All-Big 12 for his efforts. Against TCU, the co-captain nabbed two interceptions, both in the red zone, and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. Freyler was named a CSC First-Team Academic All-American, marking just the eighth time an ISU football player earned the first-team distinction.


Conrad Hawley, Men's Basketball, Raymore, Mo.

Affectionately known as "The CEO", Conrad Hawley is a senior walk-on for the men's basketball team. Hawley is designated as the "Chief Energy Officer" for the team, having his own designated seat on the bench for all games. His main goal is to keep the team energy level high at all times during practice and games. Hawley has been on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll four times and was a member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2024.


Arianna Jackson, Women's Basketball, Des Moines, Iowa

Jackson quickly earned a spot in the starting lineup for the Cyclones as a freshman, playing in 32 games and making 24 starts. She was third on the team with 74 assists throughout the season and fourth for 3-pointers made with 37 triples, 26 of which came in Big 12 play. One of Iowa State's best defenders, Jackson was regularly assigned to lock down opponents' best guards. She helped the Cyclones hold opponents to .389 field goal percentage over the season, the fourth-best mark among Big 12 teams. Also excelling in the classroom, Jackson is one of the top students in her class at Iowa State.


Rachel Joseph, Women's Track and Field, Richmond, Texas

Joseph had a historic sophomore season hitting the Olympic standard and earning indoor and outdoor 400m All-America honors. At U.S. Olympic Trials, the sprinter narrowly missed the last spot in the 400m final finishing 10th with 50.74 in semifinals, breaking the outdoor ISU record for the fifth time. Joseph advanced to semifinals winning her heat with 50.92, also under the Olympic standard. She broke three school records in 2024, posted two top-three Big 12 Championships finishes and became the first ISU woman to earn All-America honors in the indoor 400m. Joseph earned Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honors in 2024.


Darius Kipyego, Men's Track and Field, Warwick, R.I.

Kipyego ended his junior campaign at U.S. Olympic Trials in the 800m semifinals posting the second-fastest time in ISU history with 1:45.40, coming one spot short of advancing to the final. The middle distance standout earned two All-America honors in 2024 placing sixth at indoor nationals and 11th at outdoor nationals. Kipyego also broke the 1, 000m school record with the fourth-fastest all-conditions time in collegiate history. He earned Academic All-Big 12 First-Team accolades in 2024.


Sanele Masondo, Men's Cross Country, Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Masondo was the top Cyclone individual finisher at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships, earning All-America honors while placing 16th to lead ISU to its eighth top-5 NCAA team finish. He also earned All-Region honors with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional. On the track, he earned First Team All-America honors in the 10, 000m with a personal record of 28:13.29, the fourth-fastest performance in school history. Masondo is a two-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient.


Lauren McConnell, Soccer, Barrie, Ontario

McConnell made appearances in 14 matches for the Cyclones in 2023, collecting eight starts. The two-time Academic All-Big 12 First-Team selection has made five appearances on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll and was selected to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. For her carer, McConnell has appeared in 43 games and has made 25 starts. She owns a pair of goals and a pair of assists and has totaled more than 2, 100 minutes of action. ISU led all Division I soccer programs in community service this past year, with McConnell logging 150-plus hours – the most on the team.


Ashlee Narker, Tennis, Saint Ives, Australia

Narker proved herself as one of the Big 12 Conference's most challenging matchups in 2024 as a true freshman. She accumulated 16 wins in her first semester as a Cyclones, including eight while playing at the No. 2 and No. 3 singles slots. Narker was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the Spring of 2024.


Maelle Porcher, Women's Cross Country, Mussidan, France

Porcher made an impact in her sophomore season as the Cyclones' top individual finisher at the 2023 NCAA Championships. She also posted top-15 finishes at the Big 12 Championships and NCAA Midwest Regional, earning All-Region honors. She earned her first career All-America honor during the 2024 outdoor track season, placing 21st in the 5, 000m at the NCAA Championships for Honorable Mention honors. She is a two-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll member and 2024 Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honoree.


Owen Sawyer, Men's Golf, Cedar Falls, Iowa

With a 73.03 stroke average as a freshman, Owen Sawyer turned in one of the best seasons by a rookie in Iowa State golf history last season. In 34 rounds played, he had three sub-70 rounds, including a 66 at the N.I.T. in Arizona. His 66 in the final round led him to a season-low 208 for the 54 holes, as he finished 23rd. He turned in a season-best 12th place finish at the Zach Johnson Invitational, helping the Cyclones to the victory.


Brooke Stonestreet, Volleyball, Olathe, Kan.

Stonestreet has shown to be one of the best liberos in the Big 12 ranking third in digs as a junior with 4.18 per set and leading the league as a sophomore with 4.74 per set. Last season, Stonestreet set a career high of 33 digs vs. No. 14 Kansas and totaled 20 double-figure dig performances. The Kansas native has earned three career Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. Stonestreet was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2023.


Farm Strong Capsules