INDIANAPOLIS – Six student-athletes from four Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) schools have been named 2024 Fall Scholar-Athletes of the Year, it was announced by the Conference office on Tuesday. Recipients were honored for their efforts both in the classroom and competition in the sports of men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's soccer, and women’s volleyball.
Rockhurst University’s trio of Jacopo Belardo, Anna Lantz, and Maureen Reilly were tabbed the men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball award winners, respectively. Missouri S&T’s Henry Born and Lewis University’s Hannah Smrcka were respectively the men’s and women’s cross country honorees while University of Indianapolis’ Aaron Barnett rounded out the six, earning the nomination for football.
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 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® standards (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).
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Henry Born | Missouri S&T | So. | Lake Quivira, Kan. | Mechanical Engineering Major
- Named GLVC All-Conference after placing fourth in the 8K GLVC Championship (24:12.08), while Miners finished fifth as a team
- Placed ninth at 10K NCAA Midwest Regional (31:15.4), earning All-Region honors
- Finished 66th at 10K NCAA Championship in program-record time of 31:00.4
- Collected GLVC Runner of the Week on Oct. 2
- Achieved 4.0 semester and cumulative GPA, studying Mechanical Engineering
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Hannah Smrcka | Lewis | Sr. | Corry, Penn. | English Major
- Named GLVC Runner of the Year, earning All-Conference recognition at 6K GLVC Championship (20:53.5), while Flyers finished as GLVC Champions.
- Placed 11th at 6K NCAA Midwest Regional (21:39.0), earning All-Region honors
- Placed 77th at 8K NCAA National Championships (21:54.4), helping Flyers reach their highest placement since 1997 (sixth)
- Collected GLVC Runner of the Week on Sept. 25
- Achieved 4.0 semester and cumulative GPA, studying English, earning a spot on the Dean’s List
FOOTBALL
Aaron Barnett | Indianapolis | Gr. | Defensive End | Veedersburg, Ind. | MS in Sport Management
- Led Greyhounds to 10-2 overall and 8-0 GLVC record, while the team earned third-straight GLVC Championship and fourth 10-win regular season.
- Started all 11 games, topping the GLVC in sacks (8.0) and tying for eighth in tackles for loss (10.0).
- Ranked 17th in NCAA for sacks per game (0.73)
- Racked up three sacks in the GLVC-title-clinching win versus Southwest Baptist (11/2) ... credited with five tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack in UIndy’s playoff game at Grand Valley State (11/23)
- Named First Team All-GLVC and was named as a nominee for the 2024 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award.
- Achieved 4.0 semester GPA in an MS in Sport Management, holding a 3.93 undergraduate cumulative GPA and making the CSC Academic All-District® and All-America® Teams
MEN'S SOCCER
Jacopo Belardo | Rockhurst | Gr. | MF | Rome, Italy | MBA
- Led Hawks to 6-9-2 overall and 6-6-2 GLVC record, earning eighth seed in GLVC Championship Tournament
- Started all 15 games, placing fourth in the GLVC with 16 points, and fifth with six goals
- Collected GLVC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 21
- Named to the All-GLVC First Team, D2CCA All-Region First Team, and United Soccer Coaches All-Region Third Team.
- Achieved 4.0 semester and 4.0 cumulative GPA in an MBA, earning Dean’s List recognition and making the CSC Academic All-American® First Team.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Anna Lantz | Rockhurst | Jr. | F | Parker, Colo. | Molecular Biology Major
- Led Hawks to 12-6-1 overall and 10-3-1 GLVC record, earning the fourth seed in the GLVC Championship Tournament.
- Started all 19 games, topping the GLVC with 82 shots, and ranking second in goals (13) and total points (32)
- Ranked ninth in NCAA for shots per game and 14th in game-winning goals
- Collected GLVC Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 24
- Named GLVC Co-Offensive Player of the Year and All-GLVC First Team.
- Earned D2CCA All-Region First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team.
- Achieved 4.0 semester GPA in Biology, holding a 4.0 cumulative GPA, being named the CSC Academic Team Member of the Year, making the CSC Academic All-American® First Team.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Maureen Reilly | Rockhurst | Gr. | L | Overland Park, Kan. | MBA
- Led Hawks to a 21-8 overall and 10-3 GLVC record, earning fourth seed in GLVC Championship Tournament and advancing to the NCAA Midwest Regional
- Started all 29 matches for Rockhurst, ranking second in the GLVC in total digs (630) and total service aces (48)
- Ranked 11th in NCAA for total digs and 62nd in service aces
- Collected Molten GLVC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 4.
- Named GLVC Libero of the Year and First Team All-GLVC for third-straight season
- Earned AVCA All-Region First Team and All-America Honorable Mention recognition
- Achieved 4.0 semester and cumulative GPA, studying an MBA, appearing on Dean's List
- Won CSC Academic All-District® and All-America® First Team honors