OGDEN, Utah (July 5, 2018) – Northern Arizona University standouts
Matt Baxter and
Brooke Andersen were announced as NAU's recipients of the Big Sky Scholar-Athlete Award per the conference office on Thursday. Baxter and Andersen were selected by NAU based upon their athletic and academic performances during the past academic year.
Both Baxter and Andersen were honored as NAU's Golden Eagle Scholar-Athletes of the Year for the 2017-18 academic year back in April.
Baxter, currently in the Master's program for Applied Criminology, picked First Team All-American honors in the 10,000 meter race at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships last month by finishing fifth in the nation. It completed a year in which he placed 11th in the 3,000 meter run at the NCAA Indoor Championships following a leading performance in NAU's second consecutive cross country National Championship. In November, Baxter was the national runner-up, and top finisher, on the Lumberjacks' national title team.
For his career, Baxter garnered six All-American honors in a storied career after arriving at NAU from New Plymouth, New Zealand.
Andersen just completed her eligibility with the Lumberjacks as arguably the program's most accomplished thrower. At last month's NCAA Outdoor Championships, Andersen picked up her second straight national runner-up finish in the hammer throw. Earlier in the spring, the recent graduate in environmental sciences placed 10th nationally in the weight throw during the indoor season.
The Vista, Calif. native is both the conference and school record holder with a best throw of 74.20 meters. Her mark, accomplished at the University of Arizona Desert Heat Classic in April, was the sixth-best showing in United States track & field history.
To qualify for the Big Sky Scholar-Athlete Award, a student-athlete must have a minimum GPA of 3.2, be a member of the graduating class and/or have completed their last year of intercollegiate athletic eligibility, have completed at least two years of intercollegiate competition and be a letterwinner in their respective sport.
