Kansas Wrestling (all images via fhsuathletics.com)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State athletic department had 101 freshmen or transfer student-athletes listed on the 2022-23 Newcomer MIAA Academic Honor Roll, released Thursday (June 29) by the league office. The Tiger football team led the way with 22 individuals recognized, while the women’s track and field team and the baseball team both had 15 student-athletes listed on the honor roll.
For the year, Fort Hays State saw 316 student-athletes listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll across the 16 sports that compete in the association.
Fourteen Tigers maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA to earn the MIAA Academic Excellence Award, while five FHSU student-athlete received the Scholar-Athlete Award for maintaining a high GPA and earning All-MIAA honors.
Individuals on the MIAA Academic Excellence list include Mick Huber and Josh Shaw from the football team, Noah Morenz from the men’s track and field/cross country team, Drew Burgoon and Corbin White from the men’s wrestling team, Lexi Mohr and Peyton Shepard from the softball team, Brooke Hyland from the volleyball team, Ellie Stearns from the women’s basketball team, Delayney Lunsway and Katie Puchino from the women’s soccer team and Ursula Billings, Elizabeth Fender and Kylin Rudzik from the women’s track and field/cross country team.
Shepard and Puchino joined Carly Stuke (softball), Regan Hodsden (women’s track and field/cross country) and Reba Mader (women’s track and field) on the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award list. Shepard was a second team All-MIAA selection as an outfielder, Puchino was a third team pick as a defender, Stuke was an honorable mention outfield pick, Hodsden earned five All-MIAA medals and one conference championship and Mader earned one All-MIAA medal in the outdoor 4x400m relay this season.
Shepard and Puchino were two of 17 MIAA newcomers to earn both distinguished awards.
An MIAA Academic Excellence Award recipient must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 4.00 or better at the certifying member institution. The honoree also must have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.
To qualify as a Scholar-Athlete an individual must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.50 at the certifying member institution. They must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. The student-athlete must also earn All-MIAA honors during the current season.
To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll, one must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 at the certifying member institution. The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.
* indicates MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award
Bold indicates MIAA Academic Excellence Award
