Eighteen Jayhawks Earn Academic All-Big 12 Honors

IRVING, Texas – A program-record 18 members of the Kansas soccer team were listed on the Academic All-Big 12 teams announced by the league office Wednesday. Eight Jayhawks were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, including senior Sophie Maierhofer, who earned a first-team nod for the third time. The announcement marked the 11th time in the last 12 seasons KU has had eight or more selected to the conference’s all-academic teams.

Maierhofer, a business analytics major out of Graz, Austria, was selected to the first team for the third-consecutive season. The selection made her the 27th Jayhawk in program history to be named to the league’s All-Academic First Team three times.

Other first team honorees included senior Madison Meador (applied behavioral science) as well as juniors Kathryn Castro (chemical engineering), Avery Hall (applied behavioral science) and Ceri Holland (exercise science), each of whom earned first team nods for the second time. Redshirt-sophomore Kailey Lane (community health and development) and sophomores Bri Amos (pre-business), Kaela Hansen (pre-business) and Sarah Peters (pre-exercise science) rounded out the Jayhawks’ first team selections after earning the honor for the first time. Peters was one of 17 Big 12 soccer players to post a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Kansas also saw nine named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team. Senior Katie McClure (exercise science) secured a spot on the academic squad for the third time, while seniors Eva Eliasdottir (architecture), Addisyn Merrick (sport management) and Elise Reina (graphic design) were honored for the second time. Redshirt junior Mandi Duggan (elementary education) and sophomores Samantha Barnett (community health and development), Italia Bradley (psychology), Grace Wiltgen (exercise science) and Chais Wright (exercise science) were first-time selections.

This marks the 14th-straight season KU has put at least six student-athletes on the Academic All-Big 12 Teams. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

Academic All-Big 12 First Team

Academic All-Big 12 Second Team

Kansas will conclude its regular season on Thursday, Oct. 31 when it travels to Ames, Iowa to take on the Cyclones in a 7 p.m. match. The Jayhawks will then begin postseason play at the Big 12 Soccer Championship to be held in Kansas City, Missouri starting on Sunday, Nov. 3.