Sixteen Individuals Garner 2023-24 GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Laurels

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INDIANAPOLIS – Sixteen student-athletes from seven different Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) schools have been named 2023-24 Winter and Spring Scholar-Athletes of the Year, it was announced by the Conference office on Friday. Recipients were honored for their efforts both in the classroom and competition in the sports of baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track & field, and wrestling.

The University of Indianapolis led the league with six recipients, while Maryville University followed with three honorees each. Drury University and Missouri S&T landed two on the list, with University of Illinois Springfield, Lewis University, and William Jewell College nabbing one selection apiece. Indianapolis’ Anci Dy (women’s golf), Kenzee Smith (softball), Cedric Buessing (men’s swimming and diving), Tom Zeuch (men’s tennis), Zoe Pentecost (women’s track and field), and Derek Blubaugh (wrestling) represented the Greyhounds. The Maryville trio of Anna Maxwell (women’s bowling), Garrett Rivers (men’s lacrosse), and Sydney Tiemann (women’s lacrosse) were honored for their efforts this year, while Reese Schaaf (women’s basketball) and Mellie Wijk (women’s swimming and diving) claimed spots for the Panthers. S&T’s two award winners ­– Carl Miltun (men’s golf) and Owen Fraser (men’s track and field) – were joined by Jewell’s Alex Epp (baseball), Lewis’ Beau Frericks (men’s basketball) and UIS’s Carmen Llopis Fabra (women’s tennis) to round out the honorees for the 2023-24 season.

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 a 3.50, 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
Alex Epp, William Jewell
5th-Yr. | Shortstop | Wichita, Kan. | Civil Engineering Major

• Achieved 3.90 semester GPA, holding 3.93 cumulative mark.
• Earned quartet of Conference academic honors: Paragon Award, Academic All-GLVC, Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award, and Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award.
  • Also named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District®.
• Unanimously named GLVC Player of the Year and First Team All-GLVC.
• Named to American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) First Team All-America, earning First Team All-Region honors from three different organizations.
  • Respectively claimed Third Team and Honorable Mention All-America recognition from Division II Conference Commissioners’ Association (D2CCA) and National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association (NCBWA).
• Paced league in hits (85), runs (85), slugging percentage (.816), total bases (169), doubles (23), and walks (55).
  • Ranked second in batting average (.407) and on-base percentage (.529) and fourth in home runs (19).
• Finished top 10 in D-II in total bases, runs, doubles, and walks, placing top 25 in home runs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
• Helped Cardinals to semifinal finish at GLVC Tournament.
• Claimed GLVC Player of the Week honors on Apr. 22.
• Started all 54 games for Jewell.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Beau Frericks, Lewis
Jr. | Guard | Cary, Ill. | Sports Management Major

• Achieved 3.84 semester GPA, holding a 3.925 cumulative mark.
• Earned numerous academic honors, including Dean’s List, Academic All-GLVC, GLVC Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award, David Delahanty Award, and CSC Academic All-District®.
• Named to All-GLVC First Team, leading the Flyers with 16.1 points per game.
• Ranked fifth in league in free throw percentage (87.5), seventh in minutes played per game (34.3), eighth in points per game, and tied for ninth in three-point percentage (39.1).
• Helped Lewis advance to GLVC Championship game and earned spot on All-Tournament Team.
• Claimed GLVC Player of the Week honors on Jan. 2 and Jan. 22.
• Started 30 games for the Flyers, missing just one contest.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Reese Schaaf, Drury
So. | Forward | El Dorado Springs, Mo. | Management & Marketing Major

• Achieved 3.7 GPA this year, holding a 3.68 cumulative mark.
• Earned Academic All-GLVC and CSC Academic All-District® honors.
• Won GLVC Player of the Year award and was named First Team All-GLVC.
• Named Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American, D2CCA Second Team All-American, D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year, and D2CCA First Team All-Midwest Region.
• Paced league in rebounds per game (9.9), field-goal percentage (.575), and double-doubles (18), while also placing sixth in points per game (16.6) and seventh in free throw percentage (.812).
• Finished sixth in D-II in double-doubles, 10th in total rebounds (317), 12th in field goal percentage, and 13th in defensive rebounds per game (7.3).
• Led Panthers to 18-4 league record, GLVC Championship game appearance, and NCAA Tournament berth.
• Claimed GLVC Player of the Week awards on Jan. 15, Jan. 29, Feb. 5, and Mar. 4.
• Started all 32 games for Drury.

WOMEN’S BOWLING
Anna Maxwell, Maryville
Jr. | Westland, Mich. | Forensic Psychology Major/Criminology Minor

• Achieved 3.75 semester GPA, holding a 3.61 cumulative mark.
• Earned Academic All-GLVC and CSC Academic All-District® honors.
• Won National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) D-II Player of the Year award.
• Named GLVC Player of the Year and unanimously selected to All-GLVC First Team.
• Helped Saints to 88-52 record and automatic bid to NCAA Tournament after winning program’s first GLVC title.
  • Claimed spot on GLVC All-Tournament Team.
• Posted pair of runner-up tournament finishes as an individual.
• Led Maryville in traditional (203.0) and baker averages (199.3), while also recording a 47.0 strike percentage, 87.1 fill percentage, 91.0 single-pin spare percentage, and 79.7 multi-pin spare percentage.
• Claimed GLVC Athlete of the Week awards on Nov. 16 and Feb. 1.

MEN’S GOLF
Carl Miltun, Missouri S&T
Sr. | Gilbert, Ariz. | Mechanical Engineering Major

• Achieved a perfect 4.0 semester GPA, holding a 3.73 cumulative mark and making S&T’s Dean’s List.
• Collected pair of Conference academic honors: Academic All-GLVC and Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award.
  • Also named CSC Academic All-District®.
• Wins second-straight Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
• Earned GLVC Player of the Year, All-GLVC, and Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Midwest Region honors.
• Played in 12 tournaments for S&T, averaging 70.7 strokes per round with eight top-10 finishes and six top-5 marks.
• Notched medalist honors at Maverick Desert Classic and finished third at GLVC Championship.
• Finished 23rd at NCAA Central/Midwest Regional.
• Helped Miners to runner-up finish and won both head-to-head matchups during match play at GLVC Championship.
• Claimed GLVC Player of the Week award on Mar. 6.

WOMEN’S GOLF
Anci Dy, Indianapolis
Jr. | Traverse City, Mich. | Business Administration and Management Major

• Achieved a perfect 4.0 semester GPA, holding a 3.906 cumulative mark.
• Collected trio of academic honors: Academic All-GLVC, GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award, and CSC Academic All-District®.
  • On track to be named WGCA Scholar All-American.
• Voted GLVC Player of the Year, additionally claiming Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-America First Team, WGCA All-East Region, and All-GLVC selections.
• Played in 13 tournaments for UIndy, averaging 73.05 strokes per round and ranking 10th in D-II, per National Collegiate Golf Ranking System.
  • Third-lowest stroke average in program history.
• Notched medalist honors at NC4K Classic and had 11 top-10 finishes.
  • Matched pair of school records at NC4K for lowest single-round score (65) and lowest 36-hole tournament score (135).
• Helped Greyhounds secure third NCAA Championship and 16th GLVC title.
  • Only UIndy player to win all five postseason match play pairings.
  • Shot a combined score of 10-under-par in three match play rounds at Nationals.
• Claimed GLVC Player of the Week awards on Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Apr. 4, Apr. 11, and Apr. 18.

 
MEN’S LACROSSE
Garrett Rivers, Maryville
Sr. | Defender | Apple Valley, Minn. | Data Science Major

• Achieved a perfect 4.0 semester GPA, holding a 3.91 cumulative mark.
• Collected trio of Conference academic honors: Academic All-GLVC, Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award, and Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award.
  • Also named CSC Academic All-District®.
• Named to United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Second Team All-America, USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-America, and All-GLVC First Team.
• Chosen to play in USILA D-I/D-II Senior All-Star Game.
• Ranked fifth in league in caused turnovers per game (1.63).
  • Added 42 ground balls and led defense that held opponents to single-digit scoring in 10 games.
• Anchored Maryville defense that ranked sixth nationally in clearing percentage (.907), ninth in scoring defense (9.1), and 11th in fewest turnovers per game (15.56).
• Helped Saints to school-record 13 wins, share of GLVC Regular Season title, GLVC Tournament title game appearance, and first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
• Started 16 of 18 games for Maryville.

 
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Sydney Tiemann, Maryville
5th-Yr. | Attacker | Eureka, Mo. | Marketing Major

• Achieved 3.50 semester GPA, holding a 3.51 cumulative mark.
• Earned pair of Conference academic honors: Academic All-GLVC and Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award.
  • Also named CSC Academic All-District®.
• Set all-time D-II record for career goals scored with 321.
• Became first player in D-I and D-II history to score at least 100 goals in two different seasons.
• Voted to Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America and All-Region First Teams.
• Named GLVC Attacker of the Year and selected to All-GLVC First Team.
• Paced league in goals per game (5.20) and points per game (6.85), while placing second in draw controls per game (6.95) and seventh in assists per game (1.65).
• Ranked second in D-II in goals per game, total goals (104), points per game, and total points (137), placing 12th in draw controls per game (6.95) and free-position goals per game (1.05).
• Helped Saints to program-record 18 victories en route to GLVC Regular Season title and first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
  • Contributed to top-ranked scoring offense with 18.65 goals per game and plus-11.60 scoring margin in D-II.
• Claimed GLVC Offensive Player of the Week six times (Feb. 19, Feb. 26, Mar. 4, Mar. 18, Apr. 1, Apr. 22).
• Started all 20 games for Maryville.
• Selected as Maryville’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

 
SOFTBALL
Kenzee Smith, Indianapolis
Sr. | Pitcher | Indianapolis, Ind. | Nursing Major

• Achieved 3.33 semester GPA, holding a 3.59 cumulative mark.
• Earned CSC Academic All-America® First Team and All-District® honors, along with a trio of Conference awards: Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award, Academic All-GLVC, and Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award.
• Wins second-straight Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
• Named D-II Pitcher of the Year by National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and D2CCA, along with being voted D2CCA Midwest Region and GLVC Pitcher of the Year.
• Secured consensus All-America First Team, All-Midwest Region First Team, and All-GLVC First Team status.
• Paced D-II in ERA (0.47), wins (39), complete games (34), and shutouts (24), while placing runner-up in hits allowed per seven innings (3.58) and walks plus hits per innings pitched (.711).
  • Also finished third in total strikeouts with 287.
• Helped Greyhounds to GLVC Regular Season title, runner-up finish at the league tournament, most total wins (60) and highest GLVC winning percentage (.922) in program history, NCAA Midwest Regional title, and two wins at NCAA World Series.
  • Threw 95 of 99 innings during UIndy’s postseason run, including tossing a one-hitter at both Super Regionals and the World Series.
• Claimed NFCA Pitcher of the Week laurels twice (Mar. 5 and Mar. 19) and GLVC Pitcher of the Week award seven times (Feb. 26, Mar. 4, Mar. 18, Apr. 8, Apr. 15, Apr. 22, Apr. 29).
• Appeared in 49 games for UIndy, starting 40.

 
MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Cedric Buessing, Indianapolis
Jr. | Distance Freestyle/IM | Grevenbroich, Germany | Business Administration & Management Major

• Achieved a perfect 4.0 semester GPA, holding a 3.873 cumulative mark.
• Earned CSC Academic All-America® First Team and Academic All-GLVC recognition.
• Wins second-straight Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
• Named GLVC Men’s Swimmer of the Year.
• Earned All-America First Team honors in six events, including finishing as the National Champion in 1000 Free and runner-up in 400 IM, 500 Free, and 1650 Free.
• Helped Greyhounds place third at D-II National Championship and win program’s fifth GLVC crown.
  • Secured Conference gold medals in 500 Free, 1000 Free, 1650 Free, 400 IM, and 400 Medley Relay, breaking the league record in 500 Free (4:18.84), 1000 Free (8:57.18), and 400 IM (3:43.78).
• Broke eight program records and qualified for the 2024 Olympics for his home country of Germany.
• Claimed GLVC Athlete of the Week awards on Oct. 25 and Dec. 6.

 
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Mellie Wijk, Drury
Jr. | IM/Butterfly/Freestyle | Stockholm, Sweden | Communications Major

• Achieved 3.9 semester GPA, holding a 3.77 cumulative mark.
• Earned CSC Academic All-America® First Team and All-District® recognition, along with Academic All-GLVC honors.
• Named GLVC Women’s Swimmer of the Year.
• Earned All-America honors in seven events, including finishing runner-up in 200 Fly and 400 Free Relay.
• Helped Panthers to eighth GLVC title and third-place finish at D-II Championships.
  • Secured Conference gold medals in 200 IM, 200 Fly, 100 Fly, 400 Free Relay, and 800 FR.

 
MEN’S TENNIS
Tom Zeuch, Indianapolis
Gr. | No. 1 Singles/Doubles | Reiser, Germany | Master’s in Sport Management

• Achieved a perfect 4.0 semester GPA to maintain a 4.0 cumulative mark.
• Collected trio of Conference academic honors: Academic All-GLVC, Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award, and Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award.
  • Also named CSC Academic All-District® and All-America® First Team.
• Garnered plethora of awards from Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), including All-American in singles and doubles, D-II and Midwest Region Senior Player of the Year, and ITA Cup Singles runner-up.
• Named GLVC Player of the Year and All-GLVC First Team honoree.
• Tallied 25-4 record in singles matches and 18-1 in doubles with partner Matthieu Derache, finishing the season ranked No. 1 in singles and No. 2 in doubles.
• Helped Greyhounds to 13th GLVC title, top seed in Midwest Region, and NCAA Quarterfinals appearance.
• Claimed GLVC Player of the Week award on Feb. 13.

 
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Carmen Llopis Fabra, Illinois Springfield
Sr. | No. 1 Singles/Doubles | Castellon, Spain | Biology Major

• Achieved a perfect 4.0 semester GPA, holding a near-perfect 3.99 cumulative mark.
• Earned CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-GLVC recognition.
• Ranked as high as No. 53 in ITA singles rankings.
  • Defeated No. 28-ranked player during the season.
• Finished with 7-5 record in singles matches and 7-6 in doubles with partner Franca Bucco.

 
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
Owen Fraser, Missouri S&T
So. | Throws | Kirksville, Mo. | Mechanical Engineering Major

• Achieved 4.0 semester GPA to maintain 4.0 cumulative mark to land on S&T’s Dean’s List.
• Collected pair of Conference academic honors: Academic All-GLVC and Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award
  • Also named CSC Academic All-District®.
• Earned All-America honors in discus throw after placing sixth at D-II Outdoor Championships.
• Named USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region in discus and shot put.
• Helped Miners to GLVC Outdoor Championship title and runner-up finish at Indoor Championship.
  • Secured gold in shot put (16.80m), silver in discus throw (50.79m), and fourth place in hammer throw (55.53m) at Outdoor event.
  • Landed fourth in shot put (15.80m) and sixth in weight throw (17.79m) at Indoor Championship.
• Set school record in discus throw with toss of 55.24 meters.
• Claimed GLVC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week award on Apr. 17.

 
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
Zoe Pentecost, Indianapolis
Jr. | Throws | Westfield, Ind. | Physical Therapy Assistant Major

• Achieved 3.968 semester GPA, holding a 3.857 cumulative mark.
• Collected Academic All-GLVC and CSC Academic All-District® honors.
• Won National Championship in weight throw at D-II Indoor Championships, followed by a National title in hammer throw at Outdoor Championships.
• Earned plethora of U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) awards, including All-American, Indoor Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year, and Indoor and Outdoor All-Region honors.
• Helped Greyhounds to second- and third-place finishes at GLVC Indoor and Outdoor Championships, respectively.
  • Took gold in weight throw (19.83m) and silver in shot put (13.53m) at Indoor Championship.
  • Broke league record in hammer throw (62.75m) at Outdoor event.
• Claimed league’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award on Jan. 17 and Feb. 21, followed by Outdoor Field weekly honors on Apr. 4 and 24.

 
WRESTLING
Derek Blubaugh, Indianapolis
R-Jr. | 197-lb | Bloomington, Ind. | Nursing Major

• Achieved 3.75 semester GPA, holding a 3.53 cumulative mark.
• Collected NWCA Scholar All-America, CSC Academic All-District®, and Academic All-GLVC honors, as well as earning the GLVC Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award.
• Wins second-straight Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
• Secured D-II National Championship in 197-lb weight class, earning Outstanding Wrestler award at the event.
• Concluded season with 34 wins, garnering National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Super Region IV and GLVC Wrestler of the Year honors.
  • Midwest Classic champion at 197.
• Helped Greyhounds to ninth-place finish at Nationals.
• Claimed GLVC Wrestler of the Week award on Dec. 19.