University of Memphis Athletics
Four Tiger scholars honored by AAC
Jul 09, 2019 | General, Men's Soccer, Men's Track and Field, Women's Soccer, Women's Track and Field
Olojo, Pryke, Woerner, Zalzman claim Scholar Athlete of the Year honors
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Four Memphis student-athletes were recognized as American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Award recipients, the league office announced Tuesday.
Chosen by the conference's faculty athletics representatives, Olushola Olojo (Men's Indoor Track and Field), Ashley Pryke (Women's Outdoor Track and Field), Elizabeth Woerner (Women's Soccer) and David Zalzman (Men's Soccer) were named Scholar Athletes of the Year in their respective league-sponsored sports, based on consideration of their scholastic performance and athletic ability. Each will receive a $2,000 post-graduate scholarship and trophy.
A four-time All-AAC honoree, Olojo has 15 career top-three performances in the jumps (long/triple combined). In the classroom, he is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-America third team selection and is the first track and field athlete to earn the recognition in back-to-back years. A Dean's List student, Olojo also received U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team distinction two years.
Pryke will go down in Memphis Track and Field history as the program's best women's javelin performer. She won three-straight American Athletic Conference crowns in the javelin, becoming the first athlete – male or female – in league history to win three-consecutive titles in an outdoor throws event. Pryke has claimed 19 career javelin titles, including her three conference crowns. A three-time U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic member, she was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-America third team in 2018 and 2019.
A four-year letter winner at Memphis, Woerner played in all but one match in her Tiger career. The Bloomington, Ill., native amassed 24 goals and 10 assists for 58 career points. In her junior campaign, she led the team in goals (11) and was a first-team All-Conference selection. A Senior CLASS nominee, Woerner has been involved in the greater Memphis community on a regular basis since arriving on campus. She frequently spends time with patients of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. In addition, Woerner served this past season as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at the UofM, and served on the SAAC executive board for the American Athletic Conference.
Zalzman, a four-year member of the men's soccer team, was dedicated to the team both on the field and in the classroom. The midfielder was a two-time all-conference performer, being named second-team in 2017 and first-team in 2018. For his senior season, he was also included on the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region team. Academically, Zalzman excelled in his classwork, earning a 3.82 GPA over the course of his four years. After his 2018 season, Zalzman was named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-South Region First Team before being selected as a Scholar All-American by the organization. Following a successful college career, Zalzman was selected in the fourth round of the Major League Soccer Superdraft by the Portland Timbers.
Chosen by the conference's faculty athletics representatives, Olushola Olojo (Men's Indoor Track and Field), Ashley Pryke (Women's Outdoor Track and Field), Elizabeth Woerner (Women's Soccer) and David Zalzman (Men's Soccer) were named Scholar Athletes of the Year in their respective league-sponsored sports, based on consideration of their scholastic performance and athletic ability. Each will receive a $2,000 post-graduate scholarship and trophy.
A four-time All-AAC honoree, Olojo has 15 career top-three performances in the jumps (long/triple combined). In the classroom, he is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-America third team selection and is the first track and field athlete to earn the recognition in back-to-back years. A Dean's List student, Olojo also received U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team distinction two years.
Pryke will go down in Memphis Track and Field history as the program's best women's javelin performer. She won three-straight American Athletic Conference crowns in the javelin, becoming the first athlete – male or female – in league history to win three-consecutive titles in an outdoor throws event. Pryke has claimed 19 career javelin titles, including her three conference crowns. A three-time U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic member, she was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-America third team in 2018 and 2019.
A four-year letter winner at Memphis, Woerner played in all but one match in her Tiger career. The Bloomington, Ill., native amassed 24 goals and 10 assists for 58 career points. In her junior campaign, she led the team in goals (11) and was a first-team All-Conference selection. A Senior CLASS nominee, Woerner has been involved in the greater Memphis community on a regular basis since arriving on campus. She frequently spends time with patients of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. In addition, Woerner served this past season as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at the UofM, and served on the SAAC executive board for the American Athletic Conference.
Zalzman, a four-year member of the men's soccer team, was dedicated to the team both on the field and in the classroom. The midfielder was a two-time all-conference performer, being named second-team in 2017 and first-team in 2018. For his senior season, he was also included on the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region team. Academically, Zalzman excelled in his classwork, earning a 3.82 GPA over the course of his four years. After his 2018 season, Zalzman was named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-South Region First Team before being selected as a Scholar All-American by the organization. Following a successful college career, Zalzman was selected in the fourth round of the Major League Soccer Superdraft by the Portland Timbers.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
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/ Women's Soccer
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