Equestrian

2024 Winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year Announced

Irving, Texas - The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2024 Winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The following student-athletes have been selected as award winners for their respective sports based on a vote of each sport’s head coaching group.

Big 12 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Dylan Disu, Texas, Graduate Student, Pflugerville, Texas
  • Holds a 4.00 GPA while pursuing a masters degree in sport management.
  • Averaged 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while leading the Longhorns to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • Selected as the Big 12’s Most Improved Player and named to the All-Big 12 First Team. 
  • Two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Big 12 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Emily Ryan, Iowa State, Senior, Claflin, Kansas
  • Kinesiology and health major with a 3.53 grade point average.
  • Averaged 11.6 points, 6.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game while leading the Cyclones to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • Named to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team averaging 10.3 points and 9.3 assists in three games.
  • Three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Big 12 Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Maddie Vorhies, Baylor, 5th Year, Canton, Georgia
  • Electrical and computer engineering major with a 3.87 GPA.
  • Posted Baylor’s top score over fences (90) and two of BU’s five top scores on the flat (90, 93).
  • Earned one MOP selection on the season.
  • Four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Big 12 Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Eliza Millar-Crossman, BYU, Junior, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Holds a 3.98 GPA while majoring in neuroscience.
  • Helped the Cougars advance to the second round of NCAA Regionals by defeating Boise State.
  • Posted high marks of 9.9000 on both the floor excerise and balance beam.
  • Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Big 12 Men’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Justin Heimes, West Virginia, Senior, Quakertown, Pennsylvania
  • Majoring in computer science with a 3.94 GPA.
  • Qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100-yard backstroke.
  • Had two fourth-place finishes at the Big 12 Championships and was part of two more fourth-place relay teams.
  • Three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and two-time CSC Academic All-District selection.
Big 12 Women’s Swimming & Diving Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jessica Davis, Cincinnati, Senior, Plainfield, Illinois
  • A communication major with a 3.87 GPA.
  • Earned five medals at the Big 12 Championships, including being on relays that set the school record in the 200 and 400 freestyle.
  • Finished second in the 100 freestyle at the Big 12 Championships with a time of 48.72.
  • First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection.
Big 12 Women’s Swimming & Diving Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Hedda Grelz, Houston, Senior, Lund, Sweden
  • Boasts a 4.00 GPA in mechanical engineering.
  • Helped Houston to a second-place finish at the Big 12 Championship, scoring 45 points.
  • Qualified for NCAA Diving Zone meets in all three events.
  • First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection and two-time CSC Academic All-District selection.
Big 12 Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year
David Carr, Iowa State, Senior, Canton, Ohio
  • Maintained a 3.74 GPA while pursuing a degree in education.
  • Won the NCAA Championship at the 165-pound weight class, leading Iowa State to its best finish since 2010 (4th).
  • Five-time All-American and four-time Big 12 Champion that finished with a 120-5 career record.
  • Five-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and a CSC Academic All-American in 2022-23.
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.