IWLCA Recognizes 2023 Scholar-Athletes of the Year
The IWLCA announced its 2023 Scholar-Athletes of the Year, honoring the top student-athlete in NCAA Division I, II, and III and the NAIA. Nominees for the award must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of athletic eligibility, have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and be a starter or significant reserve for their team.
Division I – Arden Tierney, University of Richmond
The 2023 IWLCA Division I Scholar-Athlete of the Year is Arden Tierney, a senior attacker majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Along with this distinguished honor, Tierney was also named the 2023 Robins School of Business Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Most Outstanding Student (University of Richmond), an Atlantic 10 Academic Honor Roll honoree, and a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree this season. While maintaining a 4.0, Tierney played a pivotal role on the offensive end for the Spiders, earning A-10 Offensive Player of the Year. She entered the season listed as a USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American and A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team honoree as well. Tierney finished the year as a First Team All-Conference and All-Tournament Team select, a USA Lacrosse All-American, an IWLCA South Region Second Team and All-American honoree. She was also recognized as an Inside Lacrosse All-American.
Division II – Anna Ziemba, University of Indianapolis
The 2023 IWLCA Division II Scholar-Athlete of the Year is senior Anna Ziemba. The senior attacker and Biology major earned a 4.0 while helping guide the Greyhounds to the Midwest Regional Final, leading the team in points (82) and second in goals (58) along the way. Along with being voted as an IWLCA and USA Lacrosse Magazine Third Team All-American, her academic success earned her several accolades including a spot on the CSC Academic All-America First Team and the Great Lakes Vallery Conference (GLVC) Women’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Ziemba finished as an IWLCA Third Team All-American, a USA Lacrosse Magazine Third Team All-American, and All-GLVC First Team honoree.
Division III – Elizabeth Hennessey, Colby College
The 2023 IWLCA Division III Scholar-Athlete of the Year is senior midfielder, Elizabeth Hennessey. Hennessey earned a 3.87 cumulative GPA after earning IWLCA All-American and All-Region honors this season. She was also listed as an All-NESCAC honoree and earned the Patty Valavanis Award which is given to a senior woman student-athlete who has demonstrated the qualities of academic and athletic excellence along with personal leadership and sportsmanship. Hennessy is a three-time NESCAC Spring Academic Team honoree and a two-time IWLCA Academic Honor Roll honoree.
NAIA – Bella Burke, Lawrence Technological University
The 2023 IWLCA NAIA Scholar-Athlete of the Year is graduate student and midfielder, Bella Burke. To cap her stellar athletic season as a National Champion and Tournament MVP, Burke was named a First Team All-American and named Player of the Year for the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). She was named a CSC Academic All-American, NAIA Academic All-American, and WHAC All-Academic honoree. Majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology, Burke finished the year with a cumulative GPA of 3.75.