ST. LOUIS – Illinois State Swimming & Diving's Madyson Morse was named the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year for demonstrating excellence both in the classroom and at the 2022 MVC Swimming & Diving Championships. Additionally, Morse along with 12 of her teammates were selected to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team.
Morse, a junior swimmer for the Redbirds, led Illinois State to their best team finish at the conference meet since the 2013-14 season. The Pearland, Texas native, was crowned the 200-yard IM champion, set two school records and earned three All-MVC honors during the four-day Valley meet last week.
A first-time MVC Champion and Illinois State's first winner of the weekend, Morse shaved three seconds off her prelims time for a personal-best time of 2:00.92 in the come-from-behind victory in the 200-yard IM. With that time, Morse moved into the MVC record books, swimming the fifth-fastest time in conference history and becoming the second Redbird in three years to take the 200-yard IM crown. Following her win in the 200-yard IM, Morse closed out the second day of competition as a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay that tied the 2014 school record of 1:33.77.
In addition to the All-MVC First Team honors Morse earned as the 200-yard IM champion, Morse also picked up All-MVC Honorable Mention honors in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard breaststroke where she took fourth in both events. Morse etched her name into the Redbird record book individually for the first time setting a new school record in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:16.04.
"Madyson earning the Scholar Athlete of the Year is completely deserved," Head Coach Caitlin Hamilton said. "She has consistently been a leader for us in the water and classroom and had a breakout year in more way than one this season. She works incredibly hard, and we are all excited to see what's in store for her next."
The MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor is awarded to the highest scoring student-athlete with a 3.7 grade point average or above. Morse has maintained a 3.83 cumulative GPA as an Exercise Science major.
REDBIRDS ON THE MVC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM
- Cassidy Carey, 4.00
- Mikayla Jasek, 4.00
- Emily Keebler, 4.00
- Julie Kolar, 4.00
- Lauren Naeger, 4.00
- Haley Rivera, 4.00
- Isabel Veliz, 4.00
- Kenzie Weber, 3.90
- Diana Walker, 3.85
- Olivia Gonder, 3.84
- Madyson Morse, 3.83
- Kamryn Blake, 3.79
- Sarah Hein, 3.72
"We are seeing so much growth with this program both academically and athletically right now," Hamilton explained. "Having 13 athletes recognized on the MVC Scholar-Athlete team shows their efforts are paying off and displays just how much of a team effort it took for us to make the jumps we did this year."
To be selected to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team, student-athletes must be a sophomore academically and athletically and meet one of the following criteria:
- 3.3 cumulative GPA and all-conference, or
- 3.5 cumulative GPA and top sixteen finish in individual event at championship, or
- 3.8 cumulative GPA and participation in MVC Championship, including non-scorers
UP NEXT
The Redbird diving duo of Eva Reyes and Kamryn Blake will compete at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships from March 7-9 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while six ISU swimmers will compete at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships from March 10-12 in Elkhart, Indiana. Details regarding both meets will be posted to goredbirds.com when available.
For all latest on Illinois State swimming & diving, follow the Redbirds on Twitter and Instagram @redbirdswimdive.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
