Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Women Win MAC FAR Award for 10th Time In 15 Years
August 23, 2022 | General
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University women's athletics program has been named the winner of the 2021-22 Mid-American Conference Women's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) Academic Achievement Award. The Falcons have won the award for the 10th time in the 15 years since the inception of the award, as well as for the seventh time in the last nine seasons.
The FAR Awards are designed to recognize the conference institution with the overall highest-grade point average (GPA) and academic progress report (APR) combined by gender.
"We are incredibly proud of the academic accomplishments of our BGSU women's teams" said Bob Moosbrugger, BGSU's Director of Athletics and Recreation. "Their dedication to success in the classroom in addition to success in competition is the epitome of what makes college athletics so great. Winning the FAR academic award for the 10th time in 15 years is a testament to the outstanding women who represent BGSU. Congratulations to the student-athletes and their support team of coaches, academic advisors, faculty and of course their families on a job well done."
The conference FAR's worked with the Athletic Academic Advisors to develop an award that best represents the academic achievement of students in a competitive setting. Using the same ranking method as the long-time Reese and Jacoby trophies, traditionally awarded to the best overall male and female athletic programs in the MAC, the FAR Awards are given to those institutions' male and female programs with the highest overall GPA and APR combined within the conference. Only MAC-sponsored sports are used.
"Congratulations to our women's programs on earning the 2021-22 MAC Women's FAR Academic Achievement Award," said BGSU Deputy AD/SWA Stacy Kosciak. "Our women are tremendous examples of what it means to be a student-athlete having earned this award 10 of the last 15 years. What a tremendous statement for our student-athletes to not only have a tradition of competitive excellence, but academic excellence as well."
BGSU's female student-athletes had a combined GPA of 3.635 in the 2021-22 academic year. All of BGSU's women's teams had a cumulative GPA of 3.537 or better in '21-22, with eight women's programs boasting a cumulative GPA higher than 3.600.
One BGSU team – Women's Cross Country (3.813) carried the highest GPA of all MAC teams in their respective sport, while golf (3.657), soccer (3.706), swimming & diving (3.641), tennis (3.797), and volleyball (3.754) each ranked second in the conference during the 2020-21 academic year.
"This is not only an impressive award for our female student athletes, but it is a statement that academics is at the core of the student-athlete experience," said BGSU's Faculty Athletics Representatives, Dr. Ray Schneider and Dr. Donna Trautman. "The FAR Female Academic Achievement Award is one of the most significant acknowledgements of our student athletes' dedication and pursuit of higher education. Congratulations, it is a privilege to work with these talented individuals."
The volleyball and women's soccer programs had the most Academic All-MAC Team honorees of any conference school in their respective sport, as did the women's cross-country team. The women's soccer, women's indoor track & field and softball teams all had the highest number of Academic All-MAC Team members in program history.
Athletically, it was another solid year for the Orange and Brown. Four BGSU teams made postseason play (women's soccer, men's soccer, women's basketball and softball), as well as various individual performers competing at the NCAA Championships in their respective sports.
In volleyball, Petra Indrova was named the MAC player of the year, while Julia Walz earned MAC defensive player of the year accolades as the Falcons finished runner-up in the league's regular season and conference tournament.
The women's soccer team won the MAC championship for the fourth-straight season and returned to the NCAA Tournament. Madi Wolfbauer led the way for the Falcons, being named MAC Offensive Player of the Year as BGSU has won four MAC regular season and tournament championships in a row. BGSU's women's basketball team participated in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI), placing third with wins over Furman and Nevada.
Swimmer Daisy Platts won the MAC championship in the 100 backstroke for the third season in a row and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the 100 and 200 backstroke, and the 200 individual medley. Platts finished No. 22 at the NCAA Championships in the 200 backstroke, breaking her own school record. She finished her career at BGSU holding the 10-fastest times in both the 100 and 200 backstroke.
The Falcon softball program reached the MAC Tournament behind Payton Gottshall, who was named the MAC Pitcher of the Year. BGSU lost in the championship round to Miami (OH) and then went on to participate in the National Invitational Softball Championship, finishing the postseason tournament with a 2-2 mark.
The Bowling Green State University women's golf team finished fourth at the MAC Championships, marking the best finish at the MAC Championships in program history since the conference added the sport in 1999. Kayla Davis was the highest placing Falcon, finishing in fourth place, which was the best BGSU individual finish since 2015.
Track & field student-athlete Zaresha Neal won the indoor MAC title in the shot put and later was recognized with second-team All-America accolades after finishing No. 13 at the NCAA Championship. The quartet of Darian Braddix, Raegan Burkey, Kailee Perry and Katerina Shuble won the MAC indoor championship in the distance medley relay.
During the outdoor track & field season BGSU was led by Kaila Butler, who won the MAC outdoor championship in the hammer throw. It was Butler's second career hammer throw MAC title after winning in 2019. Neal won the MAC outdoor championship in the discus and set the program record in the event at the Len Paddock Invitational. Neal finished the year with two of the program's top three all-time distances. Butler and Neal advanced to the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore., with Butler earning second-team All-America honors in the hammer throw. Neal qualified in both the shot put and discus.
MAC WOMEN'S FAR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS
2021-22 – Bowling Green State University
2020-21 -- Bowling Green State University
2019-20 -- Kent State University
2018-19 -- Bowling Green State University
2017-18 -- University of Toledo
2016-17 -- Bowling Green State University
2015-16 -- Bowling Green State University
2014-15 -- Bowling Green State University
2013-14 -- Bowling Green State University
2012-13 -- Central Michigan University
2011-12 -- Bowling Green State University
2010-11 -- Central Michigan University
2009-10 -- Bowling Green State University
2008-09 -- Bowling Green State University
2007-08 -- Central Michigan University
The FAR Awards are designed to recognize the conference institution with the overall highest-grade point average (GPA) and academic progress report (APR) combined by gender.
"We are incredibly proud of the academic accomplishments of our BGSU women's teams" said Bob Moosbrugger, BGSU's Director of Athletics and Recreation. "Their dedication to success in the classroom in addition to success in competition is the epitome of what makes college athletics so great. Winning the FAR academic award for the 10th time in 15 years is a testament to the outstanding women who represent BGSU. Congratulations to the student-athletes and their support team of coaches, academic advisors, faculty and of course their families on a job well done."
The conference FAR's worked with the Athletic Academic Advisors to develop an award that best represents the academic achievement of students in a competitive setting. Using the same ranking method as the long-time Reese and Jacoby trophies, traditionally awarded to the best overall male and female athletic programs in the MAC, the FAR Awards are given to those institutions' male and female programs with the highest overall GPA and APR combined within the conference. Only MAC-sponsored sports are used.
"Congratulations to our women's programs on earning the 2021-22 MAC Women's FAR Academic Achievement Award," said BGSU Deputy AD/SWA Stacy Kosciak. "Our women are tremendous examples of what it means to be a student-athlete having earned this award 10 of the last 15 years. What a tremendous statement for our student-athletes to not only have a tradition of competitive excellence, but academic excellence as well."
BGSU's female student-athletes had a combined GPA of 3.635 in the 2021-22 academic year. All of BGSU's women's teams had a cumulative GPA of 3.537 or better in '21-22, with eight women's programs boasting a cumulative GPA higher than 3.600.
One BGSU team – Women's Cross Country (3.813) carried the highest GPA of all MAC teams in their respective sport, while golf (3.657), soccer (3.706), swimming & diving (3.641), tennis (3.797), and volleyball (3.754) each ranked second in the conference during the 2020-21 academic year.
"This is not only an impressive award for our female student athletes, but it is a statement that academics is at the core of the student-athlete experience," said BGSU's Faculty Athletics Representatives, Dr. Ray Schneider and Dr. Donna Trautman. "The FAR Female Academic Achievement Award is one of the most significant acknowledgements of our student athletes' dedication and pursuit of higher education. Congratulations, it is a privilege to work with these talented individuals."
The volleyball and women's soccer programs had the most Academic All-MAC Team honorees of any conference school in their respective sport, as did the women's cross-country team. The women's soccer, women's indoor track & field and softball teams all had the highest number of Academic All-MAC Team members in program history.
Athletically, it was another solid year for the Orange and Brown. Four BGSU teams made postseason play (women's soccer, men's soccer, women's basketball and softball), as well as various individual performers competing at the NCAA Championships in their respective sports.
In volleyball, Petra Indrova was named the MAC player of the year, while Julia Walz earned MAC defensive player of the year accolades as the Falcons finished runner-up in the league's regular season and conference tournament.
The women's soccer team won the MAC championship for the fourth-straight season and returned to the NCAA Tournament. Madi Wolfbauer led the way for the Falcons, being named MAC Offensive Player of the Year as BGSU has won four MAC regular season and tournament championships in a row. BGSU's women's basketball team participated in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI), placing third with wins over Furman and Nevada.
Swimmer Daisy Platts won the MAC championship in the 100 backstroke for the third season in a row and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the 100 and 200 backstroke, and the 200 individual medley. Platts finished No. 22 at the NCAA Championships in the 200 backstroke, breaking her own school record. She finished her career at BGSU holding the 10-fastest times in both the 100 and 200 backstroke.
The Falcon softball program reached the MAC Tournament behind Payton Gottshall, who was named the MAC Pitcher of the Year. BGSU lost in the championship round to Miami (OH) and then went on to participate in the National Invitational Softball Championship, finishing the postseason tournament with a 2-2 mark.
The Bowling Green State University women's golf team finished fourth at the MAC Championships, marking the best finish at the MAC Championships in program history since the conference added the sport in 1999. Kayla Davis was the highest placing Falcon, finishing in fourth place, which was the best BGSU individual finish since 2015.
Track & field student-athlete Zaresha Neal won the indoor MAC title in the shot put and later was recognized with second-team All-America accolades after finishing No. 13 at the NCAA Championship. The quartet of Darian Braddix, Raegan Burkey, Kailee Perry and Katerina Shuble won the MAC indoor championship in the distance medley relay.
During the outdoor track & field season BGSU was led by Kaila Butler, who won the MAC outdoor championship in the hammer throw. It was Butler's second career hammer throw MAC title after winning in 2019. Neal won the MAC outdoor championship in the discus and set the program record in the event at the Len Paddock Invitational. Neal finished the year with two of the program's top three all-time distances. Butler and Neal advanced to the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore., with Butler earning second-team All-America honors in the hammer throw. Neal qualified in both the shot put and discus.
MAC WOMEN'S FAR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS
2021-22 – Bowling Green State University
2020-21 -- Bowling Green State University
2019-20 -- Kent State University
2018-19 -- Bowling Green State University
2017-18 -- University of Toledo
2016-17 -- Bowling Green State University
2015-16 -- Bowling Green State University
2014-15 -- Bowling Green State University
2013-14 -- Bowling Green State University
2012-13 -- Central Michigan University
2011-12 -- Bowling Green State University
2010-11 -- Central Michigan University
2009-10 -- Bowling Green State University
2008-09 -- Bowling Green State University
2007-08 -- Central Michigan University
Thursday, July 02
Thursday, July 02
Wednesday, July 01
Tuesday, June 30