PROVO, Utah -- BYU senior Lindsey Metcalf and Utah senior Morgan Scalley were selected as the 2005 Mountain West Conference Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Both will be awarded a postgraduate scholarship in recognition of their achievements. Metcalf, a two-sport star in volleyball and track and field, becomes the first Cougar to receive the award since its inception in 1999.
Established by the MWC Joint Council, the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is bestowed annually to the man and woman who best exemplify the term "student-athlete" by achieving excellence in academics, community involvement and athletics. It is the most prestigious academic honor presented to a student-athlete by the conference.
Metcalf, an Early Childhood Education major and Teaching English as a Second Language minor, is from Orem, Utah. She is an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America selection, a two-time Academic All-District selection and a four-year letterwinner in volleyball and indoor and outdoor track and field. A two-time MWC Scholar Athlete award winner and MWC All-Academic team member, Metcalf carried a 3.95 grade point average in her major while serving as the volleyball team captain and women's indoor and outdoor track and field ad hoc team captain her senior season of each respective sport.
"Lindsey is one of the most outstanding young women we have competing at BYU," head track coach Craig Poole said. "She has always deserved to be recognized in this way."
A six-time All-American in track and field, Metcalf helped the Cougars to four indoor conference titles and three outdoor crowns, winning six individual high jump titles in the process. In NCAA Championship competition, she finished in the top-12 in the high jump each year she competed, including three top-five finishes. As an all-conference performer in volleyball, Metcalf participated in two NCAA Tournaments (2001 and 2003).
A winter 2004 Dean's List honoree, Metcalf's extracurricular activities included being a member of the BYU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a spokeswoman for the Cougar Athletic Department on campus diversity, a Red Ribbon Week volunteer and numerous church-based activities.
Criteria for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award require that nominees demonstrate leadership, character and conduct on and off the playing field. In addition to superior athletic achievement, candidates must have a minimum 3.5 grade point average and be in their final year of eligibility in any NCAA-recognized sport.
MWC Scholar-Athletes of the Year
1999-2000
Matthieu Amgwerd (tennis), New Mexico
Katarina Malec (tennis), UNLV
2000-2001
John Greer (football), UNLV
Liz Toman (track), Colorado State
2001-2002
Teren Jameson (cross country, track), Utah
Shannon Bowles (gymnastics), Utah
2002-2003
John Dayton (swimming), Air Force
Theresa Kulikowski (gymnastics), Utah
2003-2004
Sean Murray (baseball), New Mexico
Delavane Diaz (volleyball), Air Force