Alabama Duo Finalists for SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarships
4/5/2018 10:44:00 AM | General, Gymnastics, Swimming & Diving
All-Americans and Academic All-Americans Mackenzie Brannan and Luke Kaliszak are the Crimson Tide's nominees for SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Alabama swimmer Luke Kaliszak and gymnast Mackenzie Brannan are finalists for the H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarships, given annually to the Southeastern Conference's male and female Scholar Athletes of the Year, the league announced on Thursday.
The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship has been presented by the SEC since 1986 to the league's top male and female scholar-athletes.
Last year's McWhorter Award recipients were Alabama swimmer Anton McKee and Texas A&M University swimmer Sarah Gibson. With McKee's honor, the Crimson Tide now leads the league with 11 honors over the award's 32-year history.
Luke Kaliszak, Men's Swimming & Diving, Alabama
Major: Pre-Medicine
- CoSIDA Academic All-American At-Large Team, First Team, 2017
- SEC Male Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2018
- Three-time CSCAA First Team Scholar All-American, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Seven-time First Team NCAA All-American
- Five-time Honorable Mention NCAA All-American
- NCAA Champion in 200 medley relay, 2016 (Alabama's first NCAA relay championship)
- NCAA Runner-up in 200 medley relay, 2017
- SEC Champion in 200 freestyle relay, 2015
- Four-time SEC runner-up
- Holds Alabama record in 100 butterfly and 100-meter backstroke
- Member of four Alabama record-holding relay teams
- Alabama Swimming and Diving Men's Team Captain, 2017-18
- Alabama Swimming and Diving Most Outstanding Swimmer, 2016
- USA National Championships Bronze Medalist, 100-meter backstroke, 2015
- United States Open, Silver Medalist, 400-meter freestyle relay, 2017
- Led team to Top Ten national finishes three consecutive seasons, 2015-17
Mackenzie Brannan, Gymnastics, Alabama
Major: Psychology
- CoSIDA Academic All-American At-Large Team, First Team, 2017
- CoSIDA Academic All-American At-Large Team, Second Team, 2016
- Three-time NACGC/W Scholastic All-American, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Alabama Gymnastics' Fern Hampton Academic Award, 2016
- University of Alabama General Chemistry Student of the Year, 2017 & 2018
- University of Alabama Distinguished Undergraduate Scholar, 2018
- University of Alabama Woodrow Alvin Davis Family Student Athlete Award, 2018
- University of Alabama Homecoming Court, 2017
- Two-time First Team All-American (All-Around 2016, Vault 2016)
- Two-time Second Team All-American (Uneven Bars 2016, Floor Exercise 2015)
- Two-time NCAA Regional Champion (Uneven Bars 2016, Vault 2015)
- SEC Champion in Vault, 2016
- Led team to NCAA Super Six Team Finals three consecutive seasons, 2015-17)
- Led team to SEC Championship, 2015
Each year, the SEC, in conjunction with AT&T, an SEC official sponsor, provides the league's male and female McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship recipients with a $20,000 post-graduate scholarship. The 26 remaining male and female finalists for the award will also receive a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship.
The award recipients are chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 14 SEC institutions and are honored at the SEC Spring Meetings in Sandestin, Fla., in early June.
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Players Mentioned
