June 18, 2009
Wayne State University Director of Athletics Rob Fournier announced today the 2008-09 Male and Female EDS/Student-Athletes of the Year. Candidates were judged on academic distinction, athletic accomplishments, individual involvement and University and community service, as well as coaches' recommendation.
Junior swimmer Ashley St. Andrew (Grand Rapids, Mich./Jenison) and senior swimmer Sean Smith (Auburn, Mich./Bay City Western/U. of Kentucky) were selected as the 2008-09 female and male student-athletes of the year after being nominated by their coach with voting by the athletic department's coaches and administrative staff.
"In a year of our highest national finish ever in the national standings, with the recognition of eleven (11) national champions and an unprecedented 37 All-Americans, Ashley St. Andrew and Sean Smith are perfect representatives of that success as the female and male student athletes of the year," commented Fournier.
St. Andrew (pictured below, left) became the first individual national champion in the history of Wayne State women's swimming, not claiming one but two national titles (500 free and 1000 free) last March. A six-time First Team All-American in 2009, she placed second in the 1650 free, fourth in the 200 free, along with top eight finishes in both the 400 free relay and 800 free relay.
A pharmacy major with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.46, St. Andrew was voted to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District College Division Women's At-Large Second Team for the second consecutive year. She was a recipient of the GLIAC Winter 2009 Commissioner's Award for academic and athletic excellence, while also receiving the Deans' Award in April for having the highest cumulative grade-point average among all student-athletes in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
A two-time GLIAC All-Academic team selection, St. Andrew has garnered 19 All-America honors in three seasons including helping the women's squad to its top-three national finishes in school history.
"Ashley's recognition is a testament to an unassuming national champion who best represents the work ethic and commitment of WSU student-athletes. A two-event national champion, and a six-time All-American this year, her athletic accolades compliment her academic success being named the top Student Athlete in a demanding pharmacy program and the recipient of the Commissioner's Award," added Fournier.
Smith won the national title in the 200 backstroke, setting an NCAA meet record (1:44.89), and led off the first-place 400 medley relay, which also broke the national record. Altogether he earned six First Team All-America awards last March.
At the 2009 GLIAC Championship, Smith was named GLIAC Men's Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Year becoming just the second Warrior in program history to earn the award (David Lutz, 2005). He won conference titles in the 100 and 200 backstroke events and led off the 200 and 400 medley relays, both of which came in first place and set school and conference records.
A secondary education major, Smith earned 10 All-America awards in two years for the Green and Gold after spending his first two years at the University of Kentucky. He was also named to the GLIAC All-Academic team in 2009.
"It makes sense that the two programs that both finished as national runner-up would have the two student-athletes of the year. Sean's national championship and six All-American achievements make him singular among a highly-talented swim program. His four conference swim records made him a natural to be the Conference Male Swimmer of the Year. The NCAA's decision to grant him a prestigious Degree Completion Award is a compliment to his cum laude academic record," said Fournier.
This is the eighth year EDS has sponsored the WSU Student-Athlete of the Year award. The first year recipients were softball player Kelly Kashermick and hockey player David Guerrera, while cross country runner Shelly Vickery and hockey player Dustin Kingston were the 2002-03 honorees. The 2003-04 student-athletes of the year were women's hockey player Kim Spaulding and swimmer David Lutz. Lutz became the first two-time winner in 2004-05 along with Anna Vinnikov, a member of the women's fencing squad. The 2005-06 recipients were diver Erika Barczak and swimmer Nick Ingrao, while 2006-07 recipients were Anna Garina, a national champion fencer, and Kris Krzyminski, an All-American basketball player. Last year's honorees were diver Erika Barczak and baseball pitcher Anthony Bass.
