Ronquillio Named Semifinalist for Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year

Nebraska swimming and diving senior Madesyn Ronquillio was recognized as one of 20 NCAA student-athletes to be named a semifinalist for the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year Award.

As a 2022 team captain, Ronquillio led the team in and out of the pool throughout the season. The senior from Tracy, Calif., has tallied four victories and 15 top-three finishes in the backstroke events this season. A nutrition and health sciences major, Ronquillio was named a 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar, a 2022 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. She also earned the prestigious Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award in 2022. She is a five-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll selection and a two-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.

“If a student-athlete’s legacy could be one of being either a great athlete, scholar, or a great person, this is certainly significant. Madesyn Ronquillio embodies all of these and is a shining example of what it means to be a student-athlete,” Nebraska Head Swimming and Diving Coach Pablo Morales said.

In addition to their athletic ability, students named 2023 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars are students of color who have maintained at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, are at least sophomores academically, and have been active on their campuses or in their communities. Of the nearly 1,000 scholar-athletes nominated, one male and one female athlete will be selected as Sports Scholar of the Year.

 

The top women (in alphabetical order) are:

 

Sydni Black, Loyola University Maryland, Lacrosse

Kristin Boos, DePaul University, Soccer

Kaira Brown, Vanderbilt University, Track/Cross Country

Lauren DeVaney, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Basketball

Camber Hayes, Miami University, Soccer

Julie Kouijzer, University of Louisville, Field Hockey

Ashley Linares, Felician University, Track/Cross Country

Madesyn Ronquillio, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Swimming & Diving

Kelly Ryono, University of Illinois, Softball

Stella Wiesemann, The George Washington University, Tennis

The top men (in alphabetical order) are:

 

Alvaro Alonso-Sanchez, Wabash College, Tennis

Braelen Bridges, University of Georgia, Basketball

Kobe Brown, University of Missouri, Basketball

Elijah Green, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Football

Chase Griffin, UCLA, Football

JoVoni Johnson-McCray, Rice University, Football

Micaylon Moore, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Track/Cross Country

Taj Salawu, College of the Holy Cross, Soccer

Reis Thomas, Wabash College, Track/Cross Country

Lyle Yost, The Ohio State University, Swimming & Diving

 

Finalists will be announced prior to the April 27 edition of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.