Mercyhurst captures five national trophies, wins two team championships in Nashville
Mercyhurst University students brought home five national trophies—more than any other institution competing—at the 2026 National Collegiate Business Championships held Monday, Feb. 16, through Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Competing against nationally recognized programs from institutions, including Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, LSU, Baylor, and others, Mercyhurst earned two team championships and three individual titles across Innovation and Sport Analytics divisions.
In total, four team trophies and eight individual trophies (first and second place in each division) were awarded. Mercyhurst students earned five of the twelve overall trophies awarded at the championships. Syracuse University and Abilene Christian University each earned two.
Innovation Division
Mercyhurst’s Innovation Team delivered one of the most dominant performances of the competition:
- Team Champions ($2,500 prize)
- Kaila Szczygielski—First Overall ($1,500)
- Joseph Chiprean—Second Overall ($500)
- Mykhailo Polishchuk—Fifth Overall
- RJ Delisanti—Sixth Overall
- John White—10th Overall
All five Mercyhurst Innovation team members placed in the national Top 10 individual rankings.
Sport Analytics Division
Mercyhurst also captured the Team Championship in Sport Analytics. The division included both undergraduate and graduate competitors from programs across the country.
- Eric Combs—First Overall
- Mckenzie Smith—Third Overall
- Mckenzie Smith—Winner, Presentation Pro (defending her analysis before a live national audience)
Digital Marketing Division
The Digital Marketing competition—the largest field of the championships—featured the most participating institutions and competitors.
Elena Delcorvo finished fourth overall nationally. The Digital Marketing Championship is in its third year, with overall champions representing Ohio State (2024), Mercyhurst (2025), and Syracuse (2026).
Faculty Recognition
Dr. John Parente (Innovation) and Brian Fuller (Sport Analytics) each received Top Teaching Awards in their respective divisions, recognizing instructional excellence at the national level.
Student-Athlete Excellence
Innovation team member Mykhailo Polishchuk exemplified Mercyhurst’s student-athlete commitment. After competing in a tennis match at Penn State on Saturday, returning home at 11 p.m., and departing for Nashville at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, he finished fifth overall nationally and earned prize money—before returning to campus in time for an 8 a.m. class Wednesday. He is competing again this week at Cleveland State.
“Seeing our students perform at this level against nationally established programs is incredibly rewarding,” said Dr. John Parente. “They showcased both competitive excellence and academic discipline on a national stage.”
The performance marks one of the strongest collective showings in program history. The championships were hosted by the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena and drew competitors from leading Division I institutions across the country.
PHOTO 1: Mercyhurst University’s Innovation Team celebrates after capturing the team championship and placing all five members in the national Top 10 at the 2026 National Collegiate Business Championships in Nashville.
PHOTO 2: Mercyhurst University students and faculty gather at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville during the 2026 National Collegiate Business Championships, where the delegation captured five national trophies.