INDIANAPOLIS – Twenty-two student-athletes representing nine Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) institutions have been named 2020-21 GLVC Scholar-Athletes of the Year, it was announced by the Conference office on Friday. Recipients were honored for their efforts in the classroom and on the playing field in 22 league-sponsored sports.
The University of Indianapolis led all league members with nine selections, including
Connor Steeb (football),
Lauren Bailey (women’s cross country),
Oliver Mast (men’s golf),
Pilar Echeverria (women’s golf),
Hallie Waters (softball),
Nikol Alekseeva (women’s tennis),
Andrew Sams (wrestling),
Dimitrios Karousos (men’s soccer), and
Dana Youssef (women’s soccer). Drury University followed with three on the list, including
Conley Garrison (men’s basketball),
Paige Robinson (women’s basketball), and
Bec Cross (women’s swimming & diving), while Lewis University also placed three:
Allie Heinzer (women’s track & field),
Peter Carlson (men’s lacrosse), and
Jamie Poppen (volleyball). Missouri S&T’s
Andrew Lofgren (men’s cross country) and
Nathan Swadley (men’s track & field) also won their respective sport’s honor, as University of Illinois Springfield’s
Menno Servaes (men’s tennis), Lindenwood University’s
Erin McGuire (women’s lacrosse), Maryville University’s
Macailin Rodriguez (women’s bowling), McKendree University’s
Fabio Dalu (men’s swimming & diving), and Quincy University’s
Riley Martin (baseball) claimed the accolade.
This is the first year the GLVC has recognized each sport’s winner at one time, with all competition other than cross country taking place in the spring.
The league selects one student-athlete in each Conference sport to be designated the GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The award is based upon athletic accomplishments, both team and individual, and academic performance in the season upon which the award is based. Each GLVC member has the opportunity to nominate one individual from its team for the award. Nominees must have a cumulative grade point average that meets Academic All-America standards (3.30), and freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for the award. The voting is completed by each member institution's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR).
Baseball: Martin is the 15th GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Quincy history and the third from the baseball program, including the first since former head coach and current Athletics Director Josh Rabe in 2000. On the diamond, Martin earned GLVC Pitcher of the Year honors, as well as regional top hurler awards from D2CCA, NCBWA, and ABCA. The senior tossed 78.2 innings this spring, striking out 152 opponents with a 3.55 ERA to lead the Hawks to an at-large berth in the NCAA Midwest regional. In addition, Martin was named NCBWA All-America Third Team, starting 12 contests and holding opponents to a .221 batting average. Martin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science and Chemistry and will complete his Master of Business Administration this summer.
Men’s Basketball: Garrison capped his outstanding career as the first Drury men’s basketball player to earn GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year since Chris Ijames in 2008. The Bolivar, Mo., native started all 21 games for the Panthers this past winter, averaging 17.3 points and 4.9 assists per contest to lead Drury to a berth in the GLVC Championship. The three-time All-GLVC First Team selection was named CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team earlier this spring following his senior campaign, adding to his pair of NABC All-District nods as a sophomore and junior. Garrison finished 11th all-time in scoring at Drury with 1,747 career points and a 3.71 GPA while triple-majoring in Finance, Management, and Marketing.
Women’s Basketball: Robinson is the second straight Drury women’s basketball player to be named GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, forging a remarkable junior campaign that includes Ron Lenz D2CCA Player of the Year, WBCA Player of the Year, GLVC Player of the Year, All-Elite Eight Tournament Team, Midwest Regional Most Valuable Player, and GLVC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Robinson also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team honors with a 3.77 semester GPA as a Marketing/Business and Entrepreneurship major, while leading the Panthers to an appearance in the DII National Championship. On the court, Robinson averaged 21.1 points and 5.8 rebounds, while recording 116 assists, 45 steals, and 28 blocks. Voted GLVC Player of the Week on three occasions, the Bethany, Ill., product ranked nationally in the top 25 in five categories and was one of 11 players who recorded a triple-double in 2020-21.
Women’s Bowling: Rodriguez is the second recipient in the sport and first from Maryville following the 2020-21 winter season. The junior, who has maintained a 4.0 GPA through three years as a History major, led the Saints to their first-ever ITC National Tournament appearance and was named All-GLVC First Team for the second time. A two-time Academic All-GLVC selection, the Kentwood, Mich., native was also chosen as the GLVC Bowler of the Week once this season and helped Maryville climb as high as No. 9 in the NTCA national poll. Rodriguez averaged 196.9 pins per game this season, ranking 37th in NCAA. Rodriguez was named a recipient of the GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguised Scholar award, honoring the student-athletes that posted a 4.0 GPA over the course of the academic year.
Men’s Cross Country: Lofgren is the first men’s cross country winner from Missouri S&T in GLVC Scholar-Athlete history, finishing as the Miners’ top runner in two of the team’s three races this past fall. With a semester GPA of 4.0 in Geological Engineering, the Ballwin, Mo., native placed eighth at the GLVC Championships with a time of 26:34. A member of the Missouri S&T honor roll, Lofgren was also the team’s top finisher at the Southwest Baptist Triangular.
Women’s Cross Country: Named the GLVC Runner of the Year, Bailey won all three races in the fall, including the GLVC Championship, GLVC East Divisional 6k, and GLVC Triangular 5k. She set a new league mark with a time of 20:23.48 during the Championship race, and was twice named USTFCCCA Cross Country National Athlete of the Week. Posting a 4.0 fall semester GPA as a Public Health Education and Promotion major with minors in Psychology and Spanish, Bailey was recently name Academic All-GLVC for the fourth time.
Football: Steeb is the fourth Greyhound to earn GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the sport of football and the first since Hayden Janney in 2016. Leading the team in tackles, Steeb was named All-GLVC First Team while also earning his fourth straight Academic All-GLVC selection. Steeb tallied three pass breakups in the GLVC Championship game to lead the Greyhounds to their league-best seventh title and ranked second among Conference players in total tackles. Graduating with an Operations and Supply Chain Management major, Steeb sported a 3.6 GPA during the spring semester as an MBA student.
Men’s Golf: Now a two-time GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Mast adds to his 2019 honor following a successful spring season that ended with his second GLVC Player of the Year award and a national semifinal appearance for UIndy. Mast recorded a 72.8 scoring average this season, winning three tournaments and finishing in the top 10 seven times. Mast graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Management, accumulating a 3.7 GPA over the past four years. The Fortville, Ind., product was recently named the 2021 GLVC Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award recipient, as the league’s male athlete of the year.
Women’s Golf: One of the most-prolific student-athletes in GLVC history, Echeverria closes out her UIndy career with a second straight Scholar-Athlete of the Year selection. Adding to her fifth consecutive All-America nod, Echeverria recorded a 73.6 scoring average this season and led UIndy to a national quarterfinal appearance. The Guatemala native also earned her fifth All-GLVC First Team award, amassing eight top-five finishes and two wins in 11 tournaments, including a runner-up finish at the GLVC Championships this past spring. Echeverria secured a 3.85 GPA during the spring semester as she finishes her master’s degree in Data Analytics.
Men’s Lacrosse: Carlson is the first Flyer to be recognized as the GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the sport of men’s lacrosse, as Lewis is the third different institution in the four years the league has sponsored it. The faceoff specialist ranked third in the GLVC – among FOGOs with at least 80 attempts – with a 61.1 percent effort at the x, securing 107 wins on 175 attempts. The Lakeville, Minn., product also topped the Conference in ground balls per game, totaling 74 in eight games. Carlson, voted All-GLVC First Team as a sophomore, has maintained a 4.0 GPA as a Business Administration major. In addition to being named to the Dean’s List, Carlson also earned the GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award.
Women’s Lacrosse: McGuire played an integral role in Lindenwood’s run to the 2021 DII national title this spring, leading the team with 95 points, 50 assists, and 45 goals. The Westminster, Md., native topped the GLVC in both assists and points, while ranking third nationally in the categories. Maintaining a 3.85 GPA while earning a master’s degree in Marketing, McGuire was named an IWLCA Second Team All-American with nods to the IWLCA All-Region and All-GLVC First Teams.
Men’s Soccer: Karousos is the first GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year from UIndy in men’s soccer since Jacob Meyer in 2015. The senior led NCAA DII in goalie minutes played (1,604:32) and shutouts (10), while ranking third in goals-against average (.337). The Athens, Greece, native was named All-GLVC First Team, leading UIndy to its first unbeaten season in program history, blanking opponents in the GLVC Quarterfinals and Semifinals. A Physics major with a double minor in Math and Computer Sciences, Karousos finished his undergraduate degree with a 3.815 GPA, while recording an .857 save percentage.
Women’s Soccer: Youssef capped an impressive senior spring season with the first GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the UIndy women’s soccer program since Abby Tracy in 2008. Voted the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, Youssef led the Greyhounds to their first league semifinal under head coach Holly Cox. Youssef anchored nine shutouts during the spring, which ranked second in NCAA Division II. The Monchengladbach, Germany, native tallied eight points on two goals and four assists, while posting a 4.0 undergraduate GPA in Biology and a double minor in Psychology and Chemistry. Earlier this week, Youssef also earned the prestigious Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award, which recognizes perfect 4.0 GPAs at the conclusion of the student-athletes’ careers.
Softball: Recognized last week as the 2021 GLVC Richard R. Scharf Paragon Award winner, Waters earns her second straight GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor following an impressive senior campaign. After being named GLVC Pitcher of the Year, the league’s female athlete of the year went on to claim D2CCA Midwest Pitcher of the Year, as well as D2CCA All-America Third Team distinction and NFCA All-Region First Team honors. Waters led the Greyhounds to the GLVC Championship this spring, topping the league in appearances (34) and starts (29), while ranking second in innings (159.1) and wins (21) and third in strikeouts (170) and opponent batting average (.179). Graduating with a 3.992 GPA in Biology and Psychology, Waters was recently accepted into the Indiana University School of Medicine. The Boonville, Ind., product is also a four-time Academic All-GLVC selection and recipient of the GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award.
Men’s Swimming and Diving: Named DII CSCAA Swimmer of the Year, combined with his 3.847 GPA, Dalu was a fitting choice for GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year following another record-breaking campaign in the pool. The Cagliari, Italy, native captured four individual national titles this season, including the 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free, and 400 IM, while setting new DII records in the 1000 free and 1650 free. Dalu also smashed four GLVC records on his way to being named the league’s Swimmer of the Year, while maintaining a 4.0 semester GPA to raise his cumulative to 3.847 as a Data Analytics major. Dalu led the Bearcats to a fourth-place finish at nationals, the program’s highest mark ever.
Women’s Swimming and Diving: Following a junior campaign in which Cross was named GLVC Swimmer of the Year and won two national titles, the Canberra, Australia, native is the first GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year from Drury since Wai Ting Yu in 2015. Cross claimed three league titles in 200 IM, 400 IM, and 200 breaststroke with national titles in the latter two events and finishing runner-up in the 500 backstroke. Overall, the junior placed in the top five in six events at the national meet to lead the Panthers to a runner-up finish as a team. Cross has posted a 3.92 GPA over her six semesters, majoring in Exercise Physiology/Community Health and Criminology.
Men’s Tennis: Servaes is the second Illinois Springfield men’s tennis player to be named GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA as a Business Administration major. The Prairie Stars’ No. 1 singles player, Servaes earned GLVC Player of the Week distinction twice this season and won 27 matches, including 14 on the doubles side. The All-GLVC First Team selection led UIS to a GLVC tournament semifinal appearance and an at-large selection to the NCAA Midwest Regional. The Rumst, Belgium, product also earned the GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award and Academic All-GLVC earlier this week after earning CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.
Women’s Tennis: Alekseeva earns her second straight GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year after being named the GLVC Player of the Year and leading the Greyhounds to a national runner-up finish. Ranked the No. 1 singles player in DII the majority of the year, Alekseeva compiled a 15-1 record while recording a 17-1 mark on the doubles court. The Moscow, Russia, native posted a 4.0 GPA in the spring in the midst of leading UIndy to a No. 1 national ranking and being named a part of the ITA No. 1 doubles team following the completion of the season. Named a GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award recipient earlier this week, Alekseeva is working toward her degrees in Business Administration and Management and Marketing.
Men’s Track and Field: Following another outstanding track and field season, Swadley was voted the GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight time. The junior claimed league titles at the GLVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the hammer throw, discus, and shot put, becoming just the second student-athlete in Conference history to win each event at the same meet. Setting school records in the discus and shot put, Swadley qualified and placed 11th at the DII championships in the shot. A Mechanical Engineering major, Swadley also earned GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award earlier this week after finishing the academic year with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Women’s Track and Field: Heinzer also nabbed a second straight GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year after earning All-America honors in four events and was voted the GLVC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. Heinzer finished third in the 200m and fourth in the 400m at the DII national meet, and won the events at the GLVC event, along with being part of 4x100 and 4x400 relay league champion groups. Named to the Dean’s List in the fall semester, Heinzer rose her cumulative GPA to 3.76 in four years as a Special/Elementary Education major.
Volleyball: Poppen wrapped up a perfect senior season for Lewis, adding GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year to her first GLVC Libero of the Year and All-GLVC First Team selections earlier this spring. Poppen led the Flyers to a No. 1 national ranking for several weeks and the league’s top seed in the GLVC tournament, while earning GLVC Defensive Player of the Week accolades on three occasions. The Ballwin, Mo., native ranked fourth in NCAA DII in digs and 14th in digs per set (6.05), while recording a .955 reception percentage. Poppen ended her senior year with a 3.97 GPA as an Exercise Science and Movement major, and recently earned the GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award.
Wrestling: Sams is the second straight Greyhound to be named GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the sport of wrestling, adding a 3.574 GPA to an All-America performance in the 174 weight class at this year’s DII national meet. Sams was also named NWCA Scholar All-Academic, while leading the team with 12 wins, including a runner-up finish at the NCAA Super Region 3 event. The Fairfield, Ohio, product tallied two pins and one major decision this season. Sams is currently working toward his degree in Mathematics, Secondary Education/Mild Intervention.