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. Each month, Arizona State recognizes top 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.
Highest Achieving Female
Samantha Noennig – Health Sciences – Track & Field
September's highest achieving female student-athlete is no stranger to a spotlight as she has been a two-time NCAA champion and three-time All-American already in her time as a Sun Devil.
Samantha Noennig is a redshirt-junior thrower on ASU's track and field program with an incredible resume of success on and off the field. She is a two-time first-team all-academic Pac-12 and MPSF selection as well as a Pac-12 and MPSF champion in the women's shot put.
The Wisconsin native and six-time Scholar Baller is in the Barrett Honors College, and is pursuing a degree in Health Sciences. She plans to go on to become a certified physician's assistant and work in pediatrics or sports medicine.
Most Improved Female
Nora Deleske – Justice Studies – Swimming & Diving
September's most improved female student-athlete is swimming's Nora Deleske.
Deleske had a successful freshman campaign in the 2017-18 season that saw her win Pac-12 women's swimmer of the week and record two of the 10 fastest times in the 100-meter breaststroke in school history.
She was a Scholar Baller for the first time in her academic career back in the spring of 2019, and she is pursuing a degree in justice studies that she will use to help her reach her goal of working for the FBI.
Highest Achieving Male(s)
Tim Ruehl – Management – Tennis
Andrea Bolla – Spanish – Tennis
Men's tennis split the highest achieving male award as the two doubles partners Tim Ruehl and Andrea Bolla claimed the title for their outstanding academic success in the month of September.
Ruehl, a German international student is seeking his bachelor's in management that he plans to use to work in sports brand marketing and management after he pursues a profressional playing career. Bolla of Cuneo, Italy, is majoring in Spanish and wishes to join the professional circuit when his time as a Sun Devil comes to a close.
Most Improved Male
Navonte Demison – Exercise and Wellness – Wrestling
Wrestling junior Navonte Demison is enjoying he most successful semester of his academic career, and for that he was named most improved male athlete of the month.
Demison has said that he is determined to be a Scholar Baller for the first time this year and is putting in the work in study hall and in the classroom to achieve his goal. With solid grades in his three classes so far, and another two about to get going after Fall break, Demison is on track to make an impact for his team both athletically and academically this semester.
Highest Achieving Female
Samantha Noennig – Health Sciences – Track & Field
September's highest achieving female student-athlete is no stranger to a spotlight as she has been a two-time NCAA champion and three-time All-American already in her time as a Sun Devil.
Samantha Noennig is a redshirt-junior thrower on ASU's track and field program with an incredible resume of success on and off the field. She is a two-time first-team all-academic Pac-12 and MPSF selection as well as a Pac-12 and MPSF champion in the women's shot put.
The Wisconsin native and six-time Scholar Baller is in the Barrett Honors College, and is pursuing a degree in Health Sciences. She plans to go on to become a certified physician's assistant and work in pediatrics or sports medicine.
Most Improved Female
Nora Deleske – Justice Studies – Swimming & Diving
September's most improved female student-athlete is swimming's Nora Deleske.
Deleske had a successful freshman campaign in the 2017-18 season that saw her win Pac-12 women's swimmer of the week and record two of the 10 fastest times in the 100-meter breaststroke in school history.
She was a Scholar Baller for the first time in her academic career back in the spring of 2019, and she is pursuing a degree in justice studies that she will use to help her reach her goal of working for the FBI.
Highest Achieving Male(s)
Tim Ruehl – Management – Tennis
Andrea Bolla – Spanish – Tennis
Men's tennis split the highest achieving male award as the two doubles partners Tim Ruehl and Andrea Bolla claimed the title for their outstanding academic success in the month of September.
Ruehl, a German international student is seeking his bachelor's in management that he plans to use to work in sports brand marketing and management after he pursues a profressional playing career. Bolla of Cuneo, Italy, is majoring in Spanish and wishes to join the professional circuit when his time as a Sun Devil comes to a close.
Most Improved Male
Navonte Demison – Exercise and Wellness – Wrestling
Wrestling junior Navonte Demison is enjoying he most successful semester of his academic career, and for that he was named most improved male athlete of the month.
Demison has said that he is determined to be a Scholar Baller for the first time this year and is putting in the work in study hall and in the classroom to achieve his goal. With solid grades in his three classes so far, and another two about to get going after Fall break, Demison is on track to make an impact for his team both athletically and academically this semester.