Equestrian

2021 Winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year Announced

The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2021 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.

2021 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jared Butler, Baylor, Jr., Reserve, La.
  • Management major with a 3.27 GPA and 100 percent participation.
  • Consensus All-American that led the Bears with 16.7 points and guided BU to the National Championship title.
  • Selected to the 2021 All-Big 12 First Team and three-time Academic All-Big 12 Team selection (2021, 2020 and 2019 Rookie).

2021 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Joanne Allen-Taylor, Texas, Jr., Houston, Texas
  • Major in mechanical engineering with a 3.7301 GPA and participated in 100% of this year’s contests.
  • Averaged 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, while pacing the Longhorns with 42 made three-pointers.
  • Earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2021 and three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2021, 2020 and 2019 Rookie).

2021 Big 12 Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Katie Schell, Oklahoma State, Sr., Cleveland, Ohio
  • Finance major with a 4.00 GPA and participated in every competition this season.
  • Selected as the Big 12 Fences Rider of the Year, NCEA First Team All-American and Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree.
  • Holds a 7-0 record in Fences, earning one MOP honor.
 
2021 Big 12 Gymnastics co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Alexis Vasquez, Denver, Jr., Arcadia, Calif.
  • Majoring in psychology with a 3.92 GPA and 80 percent participation.
  • Collected her third year of All-America and All-Big 12 honors in the Beam, while guiding DU to its first Big 12 title.
  • Two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection (2021, 2020).
 
2021 Big 12 Gymnastics co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Emma LaPinta, Oklahoma, Jr., Frisco, Texas
  • Communication major with a 4.00 GPA and 90 percent participation.
  • WCGA Scholastic All-American.
  • Three-Time Academic All-Big 12 selection (First Team in 2021, 2020 and Rookie Team in 2019).
 
2021 Big 12 Men’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Daniel Krueger, Texas, Jr., McFarland, Wis.
  • Electrical engineering major with a 3.8189 GPA and 100 percent participation.
  • Led the Longhorns to a National Championship, while winning a title in 400 medley relay and earning All-America status in six categories (200 free relay, 50 free, 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, 100 free, 400 free relay). 
  • Two-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 Team (2020, 2021) and a member of the 2019 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team.
 
2021 Big 12 Women’s Swimming & Diving co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Martha Haas, Iowa State, Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.
  • Public relations major that holds a 3.92 GPA and 100 percent participation this season.
  • Became a four-time All-Big 12 Second Team honoree in the 100 breast and two-time honoree in 200 breast.
  • Two-time Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honoree (2020 and 2021) and Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team selection (2019).
 
2021 Big 12 Women’s Swimming & Diving co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Manon Manning, Kansas, Sr., Sellingen, Netherlands
  • An exercise science/pre-physical therapy major that boasts a 4.0 GPA and 100 percent participation this season.
  • Became the first Jayhawk to win the 200-yard backstroke at the Big 12 Championship, finishing in 1:55.57. Also participated at the 2021 NCAA Championship. 
  • Three-time Academic All-Big 12 performer (2019, 2020 and 2021) and a 2018 Academic All-Rookie Team member.
 
2021 Big 12 Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Clay Carlson, South Dakota State, R-So., Willmar, Minn.
  • Earning a degree in animal science/pre-veterinary with a 3.931 GPA and 100 percent participation.
  • Became the first Jackrabbit since 2018 to earn All-America status after placing fourth at the Big 12 Championship and finishing in the top-eight at the NCAA Championship.
  • Named Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree in 2020 and 2021.                                
 
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.