WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Salem College put the finishing touches on the 2020-21 athletic season on Tuesday, May 4th by recognizing five student-athletes for their academic contributions throughout the year.
DISTINGUISHED STUDENT ATHLETES WITH 4.0 GPA
An award given to sophomores, juniors and seniors with GPA's of 4.0.
Alyssa Ingle- Junior
HEAD COACH KIERSTON GARNER ON INGLE: "Alyssa has very high standards for her performance in and out of the classroom. Having an injury set her back after her first year and then the unforgiving pandemic I have seen great strides of improvement to her recovery. She is a quiet leader by example and works hard towards her goals. I am thankful to have the opportunity to be her coach."
Haley McDonough- Junior
HEAD COACH KIERSTON GARNER ON McDONOUGH: "There is so much that could be said about Miss Haley Mac! She is one of those athletes that never quits and works hard to pursue her dreams which is also carried over to the classroom. After a setback of injury and the pandemic towards softball she continues to lead in her studies and has been a great help to many outlets on campus. Her passion to be a healer and pleaser of others comes with great perseverance and dignity in her work and I am lucky enough that I get to coach her!" Coach KG
Jordan Tomberlin- Sophomore
HEAD COACH OCTAVIA SAUNDERS ON TOMBERLIN: "Jordan demands high standards of herself on and off the field. She is a tremendous student who always wants to expand her knowledge and challenges to push herself to not only succeed but excel. She is a great role model on the team".
SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is awarded to the sophomore, junior, or senior letter-winner with the highest cumulative grade point average who has attended Salem for a minimum of two full-time semesters. The winner of this award is senior, Olivia Kleven.
ACADEMIC MAJOR(S) / MINOR(S):
BS in Biochemistry and BA in Chemistry and minor in mathematics
Future goals of becoming a physician assistant specializing in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Established a single-season program-record for most Top-3 finishes (16) after competing in eight events over the course of the 2019-20 season.
• Set the single-season program-record for most first-place finishes (eight) in 2019-20
• Earned her first individual title in the 100 breaststroke (1:19.35) at the William Peace Invite (Oct. 19) Opened November with first-place finishes in both the 100 individual medley (1:10.07), which set a program record, and 100 breaststroke (1:16.78) in the dual meet with Pfeiffer (Nov. 9)
• Wrapped up the 2019 calendar year by finishing first and establishing new program records in both the 200 breaststroke (2:51.76) and the 100 breaststroke (1:16.31), where she was third, at the Greensboro / Virginia Wesleyan Dual (Dec. 7)
INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR CHELSEY STEWART ON KLEVEN: "I am thrilled to see Olivia Kleven receive this award for the second consecutive year. Since joining the swim program during the 2019-2020 season she immediately became a fierce competitor. She was a leader on the pool deck and a leader while being virtual. It has been an honor to have Olivia be a part of our department. She is extremely active both on campus and within the community while maintaining high academic standards. I listened to Olivia present at the Celebration of Academic Excellence and I was so impressed. She is going to make an incredible Physician Assistant! Congratulation, Olivia!"
HEAD COACH VAVINA LAPHAM ON KLEVEN: "I think Steve Jobs said it best 'Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.' Olivia has made an impact in athletics from being a fierce competitor in the water to be the leader in the classroom. She leads by example and motivates others and has the courage to follow her dreams. I am honored to have been a part of her journey and wish her all the best in medical school. Your next chapter starts today! Congratulations Olivia and Best Wishes on your journey ahead. Now go be the great physician I know you will be.
JESS BYRD SCHOLAR ATHLETE
The Jess Byrd Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was established in 1984 to honor a distinguished professor, Jess Byrd, and to recognize a graduating senior who has attained a strong academic record and exhibited qualities of sportsmanship, athletic ability, and leadership. This year's Jess Byrd Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be given to Kathryn O'Connell.
ACADEMIC MAJOR(S) / MINOR(S):
BS in Biochemistry and BA in Chemistry and minor in mathematics
She remained on the Dean's List throughout her time at Salem. She was the secretary for Tri-Beta and secretary for the American Chemical Society.
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Played in 323 sets
• Made 658 kills, along with 539 digs and 274 total blocks
• Made 1,738 total attacks during her career, leaving with the second-best hitting percentage (0.241) in program history.
• Became the first Salem player to eclipse the 200-assisted block plateau in her career.
• Was the first volleyball player in Salem history to achieve CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, which she received in 2019.
INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR CHELSEY STEWART ON O'CONNELL: "Kathryn is a leader in so many ways. She has displayed what it means to be a Division III athlete. Kathryn represents our athletic department at the highest level either in the training room or on the court but more importantly, in the classroom. She set the bar high in the department. She was involved with various clubs, worked at Baptist hospital, and remained on the Dean's List throughout her time at Salem while remaining competitive on the volleyball court. Kat, congratulations for your commitment to academics excellence! I am so impressed by your determination and focus. I look forward to seeing your bright future in the medical world."
HEAD COACH BOUAKETH CHANTIVISOUK ON O'CONNELL: "Kat is a great student athlete. She trains hard and works hard on her own time in addition to giving 100% at practice. It's easy to see why she excels in the classroom. She is self-motivated, highly disciplined, and not afraid of failure."