All-Academic Individuals & Scholar Athletes of the Year – NCAA DI Men’s Track & Field

NEW ORLEANS – Marc Scott of Tulsa, Trey Culver of Texas Tech, Grant Fisher of Stanford and Matt Ludwig of Akron were named the Male Scholar Athletes of the Year in NCAA Division I Track & Field on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Combining their accomplishments in the classroom and in competition during the recently completed academic year, these four men were the most exceptional among a group of 516 men who earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.

Scholar Athletes of the Year were selected as the highest finishing performers at the NCAA Division I Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships who achieved All-Academic status. Those who won individual championship titles ranked higher in the tie-breaking process and cumulative GPA is weighed as the final advantage.

Separate awards are given to track athletes and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, hence the four categories.

Scott, a graduated senior who majored in Exercise and Sports Science, held down a 3.47 GPA and was named the Men’s Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of North Yorkshire, England, placed second in the 5000 and third in the 3000 at the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Scott is the second male athlete from Tulsa to earn this honor, joining former collegiate record holder Chris O’Hare in 2012.

Culver, a junior who majors in Psychology, earned a 3.387 GPA and was named the Men’s Indoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Dallas, Texas, won the high jump title at the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Culver is the first male athlete from Texas Tech to take home this honor and gives the Big 12 back-to-back winners (Texas’ Ryan Crouser won it last year).

Fisher, a sophomore majoring in Electrical Engineering, obtained a 3.49 GPA while excelling as the top distance runner for the Cardinal and was named the Men’s Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Grand Blanc, Michigan, won the 5000 at the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Fisher is the second male athlete from Stanford to win this award as he joins Amaechi Morton, who won it in 2011 and 2012.

Ludwig, a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Engineering-Biomechanics, maintained a GPA of 3.856 and was named the Men’s Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Chadron, Ohio, won the pole vault title at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Ludwig is the first male athlete from Akron to win this award.

All-Academic Individuals

Including the Scholar Athletes of the Year, a total of 516 men earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors during the 2016-17 track & field seasons.

To qualify for USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have met at least one of the following athletic standards:

• For the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org.
• For the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including preliminary rounds).

BYU had the most individuals honored with 18, while Arkansas was close behind with 16.

There were 22 men who obtained a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or better.