Mountaineers Named Big 12 Scholar-Athletes
April 16, 2015 03:26 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University student-athletes David Palley, Haily VandePoel, Averee Fields and Jaida Lawrence were named the Big 12 Scholar-Athletes of the Year for their respective sports, announced today by the league office.
Senior swimmer David Palley earned the conference’s top academic distinction among all men’s swimming and diving programs, senior diver Haily VandePoel was named the league’s top women’s swimming student-athlete and senior forward Averee Fields earned the achievement representing all conference women’s basketball squads. Junior Jaida Lawrence shares the gymnastics honor with Iowa State’s Caitlin Brown.
To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be a junior or senior, maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 60 percent of the team’s scheduled contests and be enrolled for at least one year at their institution.
“I’m very proud of Haily and David, and this recognition is well deserved for each of them,” said swimming and diving coach Vic Riggs. “They have worked extremely hard at their academics, and to be honored by the Big 12 Conference and its coaches for their work is beyond special for them. Our program has continued to put the focus on academics, and Haily and David have exemplified what a student-athlete can accomplish at WVU.”
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| Palley |
Palley was named the 2015 Big 12 Men’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Palley holds a cumulative 4.0 GPA while majoring in civil engineering. He recently was named the 2015 WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior.
The Walnut Creek, California, native earned All-Big 12 recognition as a member of the 200-yard medley relay team at the 2015 Big 12 Championships. During his career, the four-year letterwinner was an Academic All-Big 12 Swimming & Diving First Team member and named a Capital One Academic All-District 2 At-Large Team honoree in 2012-13.
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| VandePoel |
VandePoel earned the 2015 Big 12 Women’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. She also holds a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in exercise physiology.
VandePoel finished in the top five in two diving events at this year’s Big 12 Championship and also competed in the NCAA Zone A Championships. The Holland, Michigan, native is a three-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team and earned 2014 Capital One Academic All-District First Team distinctions.
VandePoel was named the Big 12 Conference Diver of the Week in February and has on three occasions earned All-Big 12 honors at the Big 12 Championships.
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| Fields |
Fields garnered the Scholar Athlete of the Year award among all Big 12 women’s basketball programs. Last season, WVU’s Jess Harlee earned the award.
“Averee Fields has been a great representative for West Virginia University on and off the court for the past four years,” said women’s basketball coach Mike Carey. “She has been a tremendous leader, and we truly appreciate everything she has done for WVU and the Morgantown community. I am very proud that Averee was honored with this achievement.”
Fields adds to her collection of academic and character awards as the Murray, Kentucky, native also has received the Haier Student-Athlete Achievement Award and Big 12 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award. Fields also was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Second Team and is a Capital One Academic All-District 2 First Team selection.
The three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree led WVU to a spot in the WNIT Championship game this season, ranking in the top 10 in the league in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and steals. She was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honoree this season and sports a 3.94 grade point average while pursuing a degree in social work.
Lawrence’s award is the first for a WVU gymnast.
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| Lawrence |
“I’m very proud of Jaida and happy to see WVU gymnastics represented,” said gymnastics coach Jason Butts. “Academics have always been a primary focus for Jaida, and she does an excellent job of balancing her demands in the classroom and in the gym. Jaida’s work ethic in both venues is strong and unmatched on the team.”
A Rocky Hill, Connecticut, native, Lawrence owns a 3.66 GPA in speech pathology and audiology. A two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree, she also was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team in 2013. Lawrence also is a member of the President’s List, the Dean’s List, the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.
One of the Big 12’s strongest vaulters, Lawrence finished the 2015 season ranked No. 6 in the conference, No. 15 in the Southeast Region, with a 9.865 regional qualifying score (RQS). She paced WVU with a 9.827 season average and hit a season-high of 9.9 twice. Lawrence earned four vault victories this season and tied for fourth place at the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship with a 9.85 mark, helping the Mountaineers achieve a program-high second place finish.
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