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.