TicketsCINCINNATI - The American Athletic Conference today announced its recipients of the 2016-17 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards with three University of Cincinnati student-athletes earning the distinction of being recognized as the top student-athlete in each of their respective conference sports. Included on the award winners list are women's soccer player Vanessa Gilles, men's swimmer Connor Davis and men's outdoor track & field athlete Adrian Valles.
The awards, which were given to 25 student-athletes from around the American, were selected by the Conference's Faculty Athletic Representatives with their selections being made based on academic credentials, athletic accolades and performances and volunteer service to the community. Each student-athlete also have attained junior academic standing and a carry a minimum GPA of 3.00.
Valles' honor is his third from the Conference this year as he was named the 2016-17 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's track & field while also being named the overall 2016-17 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honoree, Valles collected a pair of USTFCCCA All-America honors during the past academic year as he placed fifth in the pole vault at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships before taking runner-up honors at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The April 2017 graduate from UC, Valles recently qualified to compete in the IAAF World Championships that will be contested in London August 3-13 and will mark the second time Valles has represented his native Spain at the world championships.
Davis also had a strong year for the Bearcats as he was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Honorable Mention team this past spring. Davis, who recently completed his collegiate career with the Bearcats, was a two-time all-conference honoree in 2017 after earning selections for the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. He also had a hand in breaking a pair of program records during his senior season as the 400 and 800 freestyle relay marks fell. Davis' final year with the program also saw him win eight individual races and another eight relays in 2017 as he worked toward and attained his degree in neuroscience and psychology.
Gilles, who will be entering her senior campaign when the 2017 season begins in August, had a banner year for the Bearcats as she was named the 2016 American Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year before earning all-conference first-team honors in both the preseason and postseason votes of the conference coaches. Gilles, who recorded a career-high six goals in 2016, was selected to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team after a season that saw her earn the American's Defensive Player of the Week honor four times while adding a selection to the AAC's weekly Honor Roll once. Gilles also earned a pair of awards from the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association as she was named All-Ohio First Team as well as Academic All-Ohio First Team.
Overall, the Bearcats were one of three schools (USF and Tulane) with three award winners. UCF led the way with five recipients and East Carolina was just behind with four honorees.
The awards, which were given to 25 student-athletes from around the American, were selected by the Conference's Faculty Athletic Representatives with their selections being made based on academic credentials, athletic accolades and performances and volunteer service to the community. Each student-athlete also have attained junior academic standing and a carry a minimum GPA of 3.00.
Valles' honor is his third from the Conference this year as he was named the 2016-17 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's track & field while also being named the overall 2016-17 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honoree, Valles collected a pair of USTFCCCA All-America honors during the past academic year as he placed fifth in the pole vault at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships before taking runner-up honors at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The April 2017 graduate from UC, Valles recently qualified to compete in the IAAF World Championships that will be contested in London August 3-13 and will mark the second time Valles has represented his native Spain at the world championships.
Davis also had a strong year for the Bearcats as he was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Honorable Mention team this past spring. Davis, who recently completed his collegiate career with the Bearcats, was a two-time all-conference honoree in 2017 after earning selections for the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. He also had a hand in breaking a pair of program records during his senior season as the 400 and 800 freestyle relay marks fell. Davis' final year with the program also saw him win eight individual races and another eight relays in 2017 as he worked toward and attained his degree in neuroscience and psychology.
Gilles, who will be entering her senior campaign when the 2017 season begins in August, had a banner year for the Bearcats as she was named the 2016 American Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year before earning all-conference first-team honors in both the preseason and postseason votes of the conference coaches. Gilles, who recorded a career-high six goals in 2016, was selected to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team after a season that saw her earn the American's Defensive Player of the Week honor four times while adding a selection to the AAC's weekly Honor Roll once. Gilles also earned a pair of awards from the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association as she was named All-Ohio First Team as well as Academic All-Ohio First Team.
Overall, the Bearcats were one of three schools (USF and Tulane) with three award winners. UCF led the way with five recipients and East Carolina was just behind with four honorees.