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2022-23 Academic All-America® Teams and Honorees
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Four standouts earn Academic All-America® of the Year Honors for Division I, II, III and NAIA
Caitlin Clark, John Matocha, Kenadee Wayt and Mackenzie Selvius earn 2022-23 Overall Academic All-America® of the Year honors for NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA
Overall Academic All-America® of the Year: PDF |
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AUSTIN, Texas – University of Iowa women’s basketball point guard
Caitlin Clark, Colorado School of Mines football quarterback
John Matocha, University of Mount Union women’s track and field sprinter
Kenadee Wayt, and Spring Arbor University women’s soccer midfielder
Mackenzie Selvius have been named the 2022-23 Academic All-Americans of the Year for Division I, Division II, Division III, and NAIA, respectively, as selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Clark is the first University of Iowa student-athlete to receive the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year award, Matocha is Colorado School of Mines first-ever recipient, and Selvius is the first Spring Arbor University student-athlete to receive the honor. Wayt is the second University of Mount Union student-athlete to the award, joining football player
Greg Micheli (2008-09).
NCAA Division I
University of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, a 6-foot junior point guard from West Des Moines, Iowa, maintained a 3.60 grade-point average in marketing. She capped off an incredible 2022-23 season leading the Hawkeyes to the program’s first-ever NCAA championship game and most wins (31-7) in a single season. That tournament run included posting the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA tournament history (men’s or women’s) and broke single-tournament records for most 3-point field goals.
Clark won the 2023 Honda Cup, 2023 ESPY for Best College Athlete - Women’s Sports, and named the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year by THE College Women Sports Awards (CWSA). She also claimed the 2023 Naismith, Wooden and Wade trophies along with the Associated Press and USBWA Ann Drysdale Player of the Year honors. She is a two-time Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award and first-ever three-time winner of the Dawn Staley Point Guard of the Year Award.
Clark, who averaged 27.8 points, 8.6 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game over 38 starts, was the first player in Division I women’s basketball history to record more 1,000 points and 300 assists in the same season. She is tied for third-most career triple-doubles in all of college basketball.
Said University of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark:
“I’m honored to have been selected for this award since it’s all sports and there’s a ton of excellent student-athletes across the United States. My academic craft is something that I take very seriously while playing basketball at the highest level. I want to thank CSC for selecting me as the Overall Division I Academic All-American of the Year.”
Said University of Iowa women’s basketball head coach Lisa Bluder:
“I’m thrilled that Caitlin has been selected for this award. She truly exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete at the highest level and the way she represents the University of Iowa. Our program couldn’t be prouder of what she has accomplished this year.”
NCAA Division II
The 2022 recipient of the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II’s player of the year, John Matocha was also named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a two-time RMAC Offensive Academic Player of the Year. He led Colorado School of Mines to a 13-3 record and a runner-up finish, while passing for 4,778 yards and a national-best 52 touchdowns this fall. The native of Magnolia, Texas, also rushed for 443 yards and five scores. Matocha, who was the consensus national offensive player of the year and a first-team All-American, accounted for 23 total touchdowns in five postseason games and led Division II in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing efficiency (178.8) and points responsible for (342).
Matocha, who compiled a 3.64 cumulative grade-point average earning his bachelor of science degree in computer science, has been a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® selection. Matocha was named the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Male College Athlete of the Year for the state. He broke the Orediggers’ season record for passing and has 10,708 career passing yards, 142 touchdowns (119 passing) and a 36-6 record as a starter. Matocha will begin work on his master’s degree in computer science this fall.
Said Colorado School of Mines’ John Matocha
“I’m blessed for the opportunity to be a student-athlete at the Colorado School of Mines and honored to receive this award. I’m so grateful for my team and school for all their support on the field and in the classroom. Great school, great football, and I am glad to be a part of it.”
Said Colorado School of Mines football head coach Pete Sterbick:
“John exemplifies everything a coach could want in a student-athlete, especially at a place as unique as Colorado School of Mines. On and off the field, he is the leader of our team. He is incredibly competitive as a player, but also puts great value in academics, and personifies what it means to be a Mines football player.”
NCAA Division III
University of Mount Union track and field sprinter Kenadee Wayt, a senior from Wheeling, West Virginia, maintained a 4.00 grade-point average in biology and was the 2023 NCAA Division III outdoor track and field Elite 90 winner. Wayt is a three-time NCAA Division III track and field national champion — outdoor 200 and 400, and indoor 200 — posting the third-fastest indoor 200 time in Division III history. She is a 15-time All-America performer, the most for a female in Mount Union history and second overall.
Wayt led Mount Union to the best team finish in women’s indoor history in 2023 and six Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championships. She was the 2023 USTFCCCA Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, Regional Athlete of the Year, and two-time national athlete of the week. The four-time OAC Sprinter of the Year was a 16-time OAC champion (indoor/outdoor) and 21-time All-OAC performer overall. She holds 10 school records.
A three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic team selection, Wayt was the recipient of the 2022 Dr. Leonard and Gretchen Epp Biology Award and was a volunteer at Aultman Alliance Community Hospital. She is attending PA school at Mount Union. Wayt will be the school’s first female Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd” selection in the magazine’s August issue.
Said University of Mount Union’s Kenadee Wayt:
“I’m truly humbled and could never have imagined the recognition I have received for my academic and athletic achievements. I grew up in a household where as long as our best effort was given it was always enough, and that mindset has stuck with me. It is tough at times to balance, but I work very hard to manage my time and create an environment to perform to the best of my ability in all aspects of my life. I have been blessed with a supportive family, encouraging teammates, professors who are understanding of my athletic commitments, and knowledgeable coaches who have taught me to put the work in and trust the process. I am so appreciative of this honor.”
Said University of Mount Union track and field head coach Kevin Lucas:
“Kenadee from the start of her career to now has been phenomenal in her work ethic between academics and athletics. She has strived to be the best in both and for her to win this award is just remarkable and very deserving.
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NAIA
Mackenzie Selvius, senior midfielder from Grand Rapids, Michigan, led NAIA National Champion Spring Arbor (19-1-3) with 17 goals, nine assists and 43 points in 23 matches in 2022. The midfielder was named to the NAIA National All-Tournament Team and Crossroads League First Team, and helped guide the Cougars to a 1-0 victory over Marian (Ind.) in the championship game. A three-time Academic All-America® honoree, Selvius is a finance major with a 4.00 cumulative grade-point average. Selvius, who was named as a first-team All-American by the NAIA and the United Soccer Coaches in 2022, has scored 59 career goals to go a long with 26 assists.
Said Spring Arbor University’s Mackenzie Selvius
"Given the extreme level of competition across the NAIA, I am more than humbled to receive this award. More than anything, it’s a testament to my coaches, teammates, and support system who were there through this whole insanely fun journey. I wish I could do it all over again."
Said Spring Arbor University women’s soccer head coach Jason Crist
"I am very excited for Mackenzie to receive this award. Her hard work, intelligence and leadership are evident in her life both as a soccer player, and as a student. Kenzie is one of the best leaders that I have ever coached, and she is truly deserving of this honor."
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michael MacEachern, Young Harris College | Academic All-America® Co-Director for Publicity
mfmaceachern@yhc.edu | (706) 379-5106
Jeff Schwartz, Retired, North Dakota State University | Academic All-America® Co-Director for Publicity
Schwartzy2@yahoo.com | (701) 793-0538