Sun Devil Elite 90 Winners
The NCAA founded the Elite 90 Award in the 2009-10 season to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
2024-25
Patrick Sammon, men's swimming and diving
Business finance, 4.00
The four-year Sun Devil won a national title in the 400 free relay, helped the team win its first national championship in program history, and became a six-time All-American in 2024. He is a three-time Big 12 champion, helping the Sun Devils win three-straight conference titles and its first Big 12 championship. Sammon also guided the team to two straight Pac-12 championships in 2023 and 2024 and was a three-time Pac-12 champion. The Elite 90 award adds to Sammon's stacked resume after being named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll and a CSCAA First-Team Scholar All-American selection as a freshman.
2023-24
Tiago Behar, men's swimming and diving
Computer science, 4.00
Tiago Behar, a native of Lutry, Switzerland, has previously made the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in Spring 2023. Behar recently finished in seventh in the 200 free at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships, along with adding a 20-place finish in the 50 free. In his sophomore year, he finished 12th in the 200 free.
Lindsay Looney, women's swimming and diving
Family and human development, MS, 4.00
Lindsay Looney, a Denison, Texas native, became the Pac-12 Women's Swim and Dive Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2024. Pursuing a master's degree in Family and Human Development, Looney graduated Summa Cum Laude with her bachelor's degree in May 2023. Among eight student-athletes in 2022-23, Looney was named a High Academic Achiever and a CSCAA First-Team Scholar All-American. Looney is a three-time Pac-12 champion, as she won the 500 free in 2023 and 2024, along with the 200 fly in 2023, and she also received All-America honors in the 200 fly in 2023 and second-team All-America honors for the 500 free (2023 and 2024) and the 200 fly (2022).
Adriana Nieves Papaleo, beach bolleyball
Industrial engineering, 4.00
Nieves Papaleo is the first Elite 90 winner for the program and helped the program earn its first bid to the NCAA Championships.
2017-18
Roberta Liti, women’s golf
Management and business
Sports and media studies, 4.00
Roberta Liti, a native of Siena, Italy, became the fifth in Sun Devil women's golf history to be named Pac-12 Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2018. Double majoring in Management and Business (Sports and Media Studies), she was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic First Team twice and a WGCA Academic All-American three times. She was a key contributor in the Sun Devils' 2017 NCAA championship, started every contest of her senior season, and earned her first collegiate win in the Sun Devils' home tournament, the PING/ASU Invitational, in 2017.
2013-14
Ianeta Hutchinson, water polo
Psychology, 4.00
Ianeta Hutchinson was a goalie for the Sun Devil women's water polo team and helped the team to its then-best start in program history in 2012. She finished her ASU career with a 4.00 and a psychology degree. She's fourth on the all-time list for saves in a season in ASU history, as well as in the top 10 in career save percentage, career saves, season save percentage, and season goals against average. Received the then-Elite 89 award.
2012-13
Bailey Wigness, softball
Communication and political science, 4.00
Bailey Wigness was a three-time Academic All-American (2012-14) and is the only Pac-12 softball player to earn the Elite 90 award. She holds seventh place in ASU's career batting average and is in the top 20 in career stolen bases. She's also in the top 20 in the Sun Devil single-season batting average for the 2012 season.
2009-10
Andy Workman, baseball
Finance, 3.903
Received the first-ever Elite 90 (known then as Elite 88) award for Division I baseball in 2010 and was a two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection. As a junior, in his final year at ASU after graduating in three years, he was named First Team Academic All-District and Second Team Academic All-American. He was drafted by the LA Angels in the 34th round of the MLB Draft and played in minor league baseball from 2011-14.