PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Commissioner Mike Aresco has announced the 25 student-athletes who have been recognized with 2016-17 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards. The selections are made by the conference’s Faculty Athletic Representatives.
The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards are given to a student-athlete in each American Athletic Conference-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades and performances, and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who have attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible.
The 2016-17 honorees include SMU’s Semi Ojeyele, who was named in 2017 as The American’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year before being drafted by the Boston Celtics. Tulane’s Hunter Williams, who was the conference’s Player of the Year in baseball, also was selected.
The winners included six of The American’s conference-record 16 student-athletes who were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America teams in 2016-17. That group includes Ojeyele and Williams, along with Cincinnati’s Adrian Valles, the 2017 NCAA runner-up in the pole vault; the Bearcats’ Connor Davis, a two-time all-conference pick in swimming and diving; Houston’s Brian Barraza, who took seventh in the 3,000-meter run at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships; and Memphis’ Jake Elliott, The American’s Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2016.
Four of this year’s winners were repeat selections: Williams, Barraza, Elliott and USF’s Rigel Fernandes (men’s golf) won the award in their respective sports in 2016.
UCF led The American with five award recipients. East Carolina had four winners, while Cincinnati, USF and Tulane had three winners each.
2016-17 American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards
Baseball
Hunter Williams, Tulane
2017 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America; 4.0 GPA
Men’s Basketball
Semi Ojeyele, SMU
2017 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Women’s Basketball
Leslie Vorpahl, Tulane
2017 American Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Men’s Cross Country
Nick Buliga, USF
Named Bulls Male Scholar by USF’s athletics administration; earned a 4.0 undergraduate GPA
Women’s Cross Country
Anne-Marie Blaney, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference individual champion in cross country
Clara Langley, Tulsa
All-Midwest Region and all-conference selection in 2016; graduated with 4.0 GPA
Football
Jake Elliott, Memphis
Four-time first-team all-conference selection; 2016 American Athletic Conference Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Men’s Golf
Rigel Fernandes, USF
Three-time all-conference selection and member of three American Athletic Conference championship teams
Women’s Golf
Lisa Pettersson, East Carolina
Two-time all-conference selection; selected for 2017 NCAA regional championship as an individual
Megan Thothong, Houston
2016 all-conference selection; first player in school history to compete in three NCAA regional championships
Women’s Rowing
Ashleigh Boyd, UCF
Member of 2017 American Athletic Conference Boat of the Year; won two varsity eight conference titles
Lea Milio, Temple
Named to American Athletic Conference First Team in 2017
Men’s Soccer
Joonas Jokinen, Temple
Named to American Athletic Conference Second Team in 2016
Women’s Soccer
Vanessa Gilles, Cincinnati
Named to American Athletic Conference First Team in 2016; two-time all-conference selection
Softball
Lydia Ritchie, East Carolina
Named to American Athletic Conference Second Team in 2017
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Connor Davis, Cincinnati
Earned all-conference honors in two relay events in 2016-17
Fran Krznaric, East Carolina
Has won three individual conference championships and member of six conference championship relay squads
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Vandela Norman, East Carolina
Two-time American Athletic Conference champion in the 200-yard breaststroke
Men’s Tennis
Harrison Richmond, UCF
Ranked as high as No. 27 nationally in doubles in 2016-17
Women’s Tennis
Monica Matias, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference all-conference selection
Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Brian Barraza, Houston
Finished seventh in the 3,000-meter run at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships
Women’s Indoor Track and Field
Rosie Chamberlain, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference champion in the 800-meter run
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
Adrian Valles, Cincinnati
2017 NCAA runner-up in the pole vault; won six American Athletic Conference indoor and outdoor individual titles
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
Daliadiz Ortiz, Tulane
Three-time conference champion in the javelin throw
Women’s Volleyball
Alexandra Mendoza, USF
Ranked third in The American in assists and 10th in service aces in 2016