Irving, Texas - The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2020 Winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The following student-athletes have been selected as award winners for their respective sports based on the votes of each sport’s respective head coaches.
2020 Big 12 Men’s basketball scholar-Athlete of the Year
Freddie Gillespie, Baylor, Gr., St. Paul, Minn.
- Political science major with a 3.52 GPA and 100 percent participation.
- Voted as the Big 12’s Most Improved Player, while garnering All-Big 12 Second Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team accolades.
- Collected Academic All-Big 12 First Team recognition in 2019 and 2020.
2020 Big 12 Women’s basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Peyton Williams, Kansas State, Sr., Topeka, Kan.
- Double Major in Anthropology and International Studies with a 3.945 GPA and participated in 96% of this year’s contests.
- Became the first women’s basketball player to earn Scholar-Athlete of the Year twice.
- Collected All-Big 12 First Team honors, while earning CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team and Senior CLASS Award All-America Second Team.
2020 Big 12 equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Rachael Davis, Baylor, Jr., Woodinville, Wash.
- Health Science Studies major with a 3.77 GPA and participated in every competition this season.
- Named Big 12 Flat Rider of the Year and First Team NCEA Flat All-American.
- Completed the 2019-20 Equestrian season with an 11-2 record in the flat, earning four Most Outstanding Player honors.
2020 Big 12 gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Maddie Karr, Denver, Sr., Stillwater, Minn.
- Business Analytics major with a 3.62 GPA and 100 percent participation.
- 2020 All-Big 12 performer in the All-Around, Bars, Floor and Vault.
- Three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree (2018, 2019, 2020) and 2017 Academic All-Rookie honoree.
2020 Big 12 men’s swimming & diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Kevin Chao, TCU, Jr., Irvine, Calif.
- Biology major with a 3.712 GPA and 100 percent participation.
- Reached three finals at the Big 12 Championships: 1650 free (4th, 500 free (7th) and 400 IM (8th).
- Two-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 Team (2019, 2020).
2020 Big 12 women’s swimming & diving CO-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Emma Ruehle, Iowa State, Sr., Plymouth, Minn.
- Kinesiology major that holds a 3.98 GPA and 100 percent participation this season.
- Set a personal record in back-to-back meets in the 50-meter freestyle (24.98).
- Three-time Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honoree (2018, 2019 and 2020) and 2017 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team honoree.
2020 Big 12 women’s swimming & diving CO-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Haley Downey, Kansas, Sr., Bartlesville, Okla.
- An exercise science/pre-physical therapy major that boasts a 4.0 GPA and 100 percent participation this season.
- Finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke, fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke and fifth in the 200-yard individual medley at the 2020 Big 12 Championship
- Three-time Academic All-Big 12 performer (2018, 2019 and 2020) and a 2017 Academic All-Rookie Team member.
2020 Big 12 wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Cordell Eaton, North Dakota State, R-Sr., Long Grove, Iowa
- Earning a degree in agricultural and biosystems engineering with a 3.831 GPA and 94.1 percent participation.
- Placed sixth at the 2020 Big 12 Championship, earning a qualifying spot in the NCAA Wrestling Championship.
- Named Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree in four consecutive seasons (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020).
The Big 12 Conference established its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2012-13. A recipient is named in each conference-sponsored sport. Every Big 12 institution nominates one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league head coaches for that sport, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team’s scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.
- Big12Sports.com -