Morse named Valley Scholar Athlete of the Year, 'Birds Place 11 on Valley Scholar Athlete Team

ST LOUIS - Illinois State Swim and Dive senior Madyson Morse added another honor to her stellar career Thursday with her selection as Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second straight season, as announced by the league office. Additionally, a league-high 11 Redbirds were named to the MVC Scholar Athlete Team. 

Morse is the first Swim and Dive Athlete to win Valley Scholar Athlete of the Year in consecutive seasons since the award was introduced in 2019-2020. She also earned Valley Swimmer of the Year honors at the 2023 MVC Championships last week.

She won three gold medals and helped Illinois State earn four relay silver medals in what was an historic performance for Morse in Iowa City. She took home the 200-yard IM, 100-yard Breaststroke and 200-yard Breaststroke titles for Illinois State at the Valley Championships, while breaking three school records, a pair of Valley records and a pair of Valley Championship records. 

Highlighting excellence in the classroom and at the Valley championships, 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 3.76 cumulative GPA as an exercise science major.

Including Morse, 11 Redbirds were named to the MVC Scholar Athlete team, which tied Marshall, Southern Illinois and Indiana State for the most in the league. 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:

3.5 cumulative GPA and All-MVC First-team honoree
3.7 cumulative GPA All-MVC Honorable mention selection
3.8 cumulative GPA and participation in MVC Championship, including non-scorers

REDBIRDS ON THE MVC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM

• Cassidy Carey
• Ella Glaspie
• Emily Keebler
• Lauren Naeger
• Gaby Russell
• Emma Feltzer
• Isabel Veliz
• Lauren Wisdom
• Kamryn Blake
• Madyson Morse
• Olivia Gonder

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