TEMPE – Being a collegiate athlete requires more than just showing up for practice and competing hard on game day. Collegiate athletes are first and foremost students, and achievement in the classroom is the most important aspect of a student-athlete's career.
This month Arizona State recognizes four student-athletes for their outstanding achievements in the classroom, with two students-athletes earning the honor of highest achieving and two more for their academic improvements this semester.
Men's Highest Achieving
Sr. Ryan Hingst – Baseball – Business Law
Hingst is majoring in Business Law. He came to ASU not just for athletics, but for academics as well. His parents have had the biggest influence on his baseball career, with his father, David Hingst being a former standout at the University of Texas at El Paso. Ryan has said that Mike Leake is his all-time favorite Sun Devil and hall of fame pitcher Nolan Ryan as his all-time favorite athlete.
"I am motivated knowing that ASU and the athletic department has given me an opportunity that many people don't get," Hingst said. "I get to play baseball at an extremely competitive level and get a quality education in the process, and I plan to make the most out of both."
As a junior he made 22 appearances, including five starts, for the Devils, totaling 42.1 innings with a 7.02 ERA and 36 strikeouts. As a sophomore, he went 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA, 31 strikeouts and 16 walks in 32.1 innings. Threw the 10th no-hitter in school history with a career-high nine strikeouts in his first career Pac-12 start in a 5-0 win against Utah. He has earned National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Pitcher of the Week, Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week and was Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week.
Women's Highest Achieving
Sr. Kristiana Warth – Women's Track and Field – Kinesiology
Warth is majoring in Kinesiology and she is co-president of the ASU Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"The support system within the athletic department here at ASU is unmatched and I feel thankful to have the opportunity to be part of such a great program," Warth said. "I am motivated to be committed to the Sun Devil way by my family, coaches and teammates who have supported me since the beginning, not only on an athletic front but also in academics."
Her parents are John and Sarah Warth and she has two brothers, Alexander and Jason. In 2017, she placed 10th overall at the MPSF Championships in the pole vault and finished first in the NAU Friday Night Duels to set a new personal best of 4.00m/13-1.50 feet. She now ranks seventh overall on the ASU indoor list. In 2016, she placed first in the NAU Invitational and Mountain T's Invite.
Men's Most Improved
Fr. Romello White – Men's Basketball – Liberal Studies
Romello (Mello) White is currently a redshirt freshman on the men's basketball team majoring in Liberal Studies. Since last year, White's commitment and dedication to his academics has completely changed for the better.
"The people back home motivate me to have an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way, especially my mom and grandpa," White said.
White is in study hall every day and works hard to complete all of his assignments to the best of his ability. This semester, White is on track to be a Scholar Baller for the first time in his academic career.
Women's Most Improved
So. Maya Perkins – Women's Track and Field – Family and Human Development
Maya is daughter to Malcolm & Lisa Perkins and has one younger sister, Aliya. She lists running on a nation-leading relay that ran 44.93, winning the Penn Relays three years in a row, and winning the Texas Relays in 2014 as her most exciting moments in sports.
"I want to prove that I am just not a sprinter here at ASU, but I am student that takes care of my work on and off the track, too," Perkins said. "So many student athletes get caught up in just focusing on their sport, not realizing that your degree is what's going to last forever."
She is a redshirt-freshman sprinter at ASU and as a high school student, Maya was a Nike Elite Athlete in 2015. As a sophomore, she was named Long Beach Century Club Player of the Year, and received All-America honors as a freshman in 4x100-meter relay.
"I want to prove that I am just not a sprinter here at ASU, but I am student that takes care of my work on and off the track, too," Perkins said. "So many student athletes get caught up in just focusing on their sport, not realizing that your degree is what's going to last forever."
This month Arizona State recognizes four student-athletes for their outstanding achievements in the classroom, with two students-athletes earning the honor of highest achieving and two more for their academic improvements this semester.
Men's Highest Achieving
Sr. Ryan Hingst – Baseball – Business Law
Hingst is majoring in Business Law. He came to ASU not just for athletics, but for academics as well. His parents have had the biggest influence on his baseball career, with his father, David Hingst being a former standout at the University of Texas at El Paso. Ryan has said that Mike Leake is his all-time favorite Sun Devil and hall of fame pitcher Nolan Ryan as his all-time favorite athlete.
"I am motivated knowing that ASU and the athletic department has given me an opportunity that many people don't get," Hingst said. "I get to play baseball at an extremely competitive level and get a quality education in the process, and I plan to make the most out of both."
As a junior he made 22 appearances, including five starts, for the Devils, totaling 42.1 innings with a 7.02 ERA and 36 strikeouts. As a sophomore, he went 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA, 31 strikeouts and 16 walks in 32.1 innings. Threw the 10th no-hitter in school history with a career-high nine strikeouts in his first career Pac-12 start in a 5-0 win against Utah. He has earned National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Pitcher of the Week, Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week and was Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week.
Women's Highest Achieving
Sr. Kristiana Warth – Women's Track and Field – Kinesiology
Warth is majoring in Kinesiology and she is co-president of the ASU Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"The support system within the athletic department here at ASU is unmatched and I feel thankful to have the opportunity to be part of such a great program," Warth said. "I am motivated to be committed to the Sun Devil way by my family, coaches and teammates who have supported me since the beginning, not only on an athletic front but also in academics."
Her parents are John and Sarah Warth and she has two brothers, Alexander and Jason. In 2017, she placed 10th overall at the MPSF Championships in the pole vault and finished first in the NAU Friday Night Duels to set a new personal best of 4.00m/13-1.50 feet. She now ranks seventh overall on the ASU indoor list. In 2016, she placed first in the NAU Invitational and Mountain T's Invite.
Men's Most Improved
Fr. Romello White – Men's Basketball – Liberal Studies
Romello (Mello) White is currently a redshirt freshman on the men's basketball team majoring in Liberal Studies. Since last year, White's commitment and dedication to his academics has completely changed for the better.
"The people back home motivate me to have an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way, especially my mom and grandpa," White said.
White is in study hall every day and works hard to complete all of his assignments to the best of his ability. This semester, White is on track to be a Scholar Baller for the first time in his academic career.
Women's Most Improved
So. Maya Perkins – Women's Track and Field – Family and Human Development
Maya is daughter to Malcolm & Lisa Perkins and has one younger sister, Aliya. She lists running on a nation-leading relay that ran 44.93, winning the Penn Relays three years in a row, and winning the Texas Relays in 2014 as her most exciting moments in sports.
"I want to prove that I am just not a sprinter here at ASU, but I am student that takes care of my work on and off the track, too," Perkins said. "So many student athletes get caught up in just focusing on their sport, not realizing that your degree is what's going to last forever."
She is a redshirt-freshman sprinter at ASU and as a high school student, Maya was a Nike Elite Athlete in 2015. As a sophomore, she was named Long Beach Century Club Player of the Year, and received All-America honors as a freshman in 4x100-meter relay.
"I want to prove that I am just not a sprinter here at ASU, but I am student that takes care of my work on and off the track, too," Perkins said. "So many student athletes get caught up in just focusing on their sport, not realizing that your degree is what's going to last forever."