North Carolina State University Athletics
Kastanek Named Top ACC WBB Scholar Athlete
3/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 1, 2012
GREENSBORO, N.C. - NC State junior Marissa Kastanek has been named the recipient of the fourth annual Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and headlines the 2011-12 All-ACC Women’s Basketball Academic Team, as announced today by Commissioner John Swofford.
A guard from Lincoln, Neb., Kastanek leads the Wolfpack with 12.9 points per game. She also leads the team and ranks fifth in the ACC in free throw percentage (.825) three-point field goal percentage (.361). Kastanek ranks fifth in school history with 161 three-point field goals. She also ranks among NC State’s career leaders in free throw percentage (third, .822) and three-point field goal percentage (fourth, .355). Kastanek is also a standout in the classroom. The three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree has a 4.0 grade point average while majoring in psychology with minors in coaching education and sport science.
"I'm very honored to receive this award, and to be the first from NC State to be recognized as the Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year is really special," said Kastanek. "Just like the rest of the honorees before me, I've put in a lot of work both on-and-off the court and I'm just thankful of being selected for this award."
Sophomore Kody Burke also lands on the All-ACC Academic Team for the second-consecutive season. She is the Wolfpack's third-leading scorer at 10.2 points per game, and also ranks among the top-five shot blockers in the ACC. The Northridge, Calif., native is a management major with a 3.95 GPA.
Both student-athletes were named 2012 Capital One Academic All-Americans last week - Kastanek a second team selection, with Burke earning third team honors.
NC State was the only Division I school with more than one member on the three teams.
ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their career as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters. The award is based 60 percent on academic achievement and 40 percent on athletic accomplishment.
A total of 15 student-athletes from seven of the league’s 12 schools were named to the All-ACC Women’s Basketball Academic Team. Duke led for the fourth consecutive year with six selections, followed by Clemson, Maryland and NC State with two apiece. Miami, North Carolina and Virginia each had one representative on the team.
To be eligible for consideration for the academic squad, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.0 cumulative average during her academic career.
2011-12 All-ACC Academic Women’s Basketball Team
Name, Class, Pos, School Major
Kelly Gramlich, Fr., G, Clemson Communications
Lindsey Mason, Sr., F/C, Clemson Nursing
Tricia Liston, So., G, Duke Psychology
Haley Peters, So., G/F, Duke Political Science
Kathleen Scheer, Jr., G/F, Duke Sociology
Shay Selby, Sr., G, Duke Evolutionary Anthropology
Allison Vernerey, Jr., C, Duke Economics
Elizabeth Williams, Fr., C, Duke Undecided
Kimberly Rodgers, Sr., G, Maryland Communication/Psychology
Brene Mosely, Fr., G, Maryland Letters and Sciences
Stefanie Yderstron, Jr., G, Miami Sociology
Laura Broomfield, Sr., F, North Carolina Political Science/Communication Studies
Kody Burke, So., F, NC State Business Administration
Marissa Kastanek, Jr., G, NC State Psychology
Simone Egwu, Jr., C, Virginia Government
ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Marissa Kastanek, NC State
