The Scholar Athlete of the Week Award is presented to a MAC male and/or female student- athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week's competition. An institution can nominate up to one male and one female student-athlete per week in any of that current season's sports. The winners are selected by a representative of the MAC's Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs).
A student-athlete may only be awarded MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week twice in one season.
MALE WINNER
Institution: University of Toledo
Name: Barend Botha
Sport: Golf
Year: Junior
GPA: 3.615
Major: Marketing
Week’s Achievements (detailed description of week’s events):
Junior Barend Botha won his first collegiate tournament on Monday at UNCW's Seahawk Intercollegiate with a record-tying performance. He tied Toledo's 54-hole record with a career- low 12-under par that was established nearly 20 years ago by UT Hall of Famer and All- American Brad Heaven. Botha opened the final round in second place two strokes out of the lead and birdied two of his last three holes to come away with the victory. He played his best golf on the par-five holes, tying for the tournament lead at nine-under and registered 16 birdies along with two eagles over the 54 holes.
FEMALE WINNER
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Name: Amy Velasco
Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Year: Sophomore
GPA: 4.000
Major: Physical Education & Health Education
Week’s Achievements (detailed description of week’s events):
Sophomore Amy Velasco was a key part of the BGSU’s WNIT run which saw the Falcons win four games to advance to the semifinals of the 64-team tournament for the first time in school history. Velasco led the team in both scoring and assists last week, averaging 18.5 points and 5.0 assists per game as BGSU took on Florida and Columbia before a pair of huge crowds at the Stroh Center. Velasco set a season high with 18 points in a win over Florida, then topped that two days later, scoring 19 points against Columbia in the semifinal round. Against UF, she scored 14 of her 18 points in the third quarter alone, including her own personal 9-0 run that gave the Falcons the lead for good. She was 7-for-14 from the field in that win, adding five assists and a steal while playing a season-high 39:09 of the game’s 40 minutes. Then, in the Columbia game, Velasco again was 7-for-14 from the floor and again dished out five assists, adding two steals as well. She had a school-record 27 assists in the WNIT run, and helped the Falcons tie the school and Mid-American Conference records for wins in a season. BGSU finished the year with a 31-7 record.
