Courtesy: SMU Athletics
DALLAS (SMU) – While SMU joined the ACC on July 1, a pair of Mustangs were named American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year for 2023-24. Jack Hoagland (Men’s Swimming) and Taylor Johnson (Women’s Tennis) were named to the list of honorees in a release by the conference on Wednesday.
Hoagland was selected in the men’s at-large spot for the award after a stellar debut season in the pool for SMU men’s swimming.
The Albuquerque, N.M. native earned All-America honors in three single events for the Mustangs at the NCAA Championships, the most by a male swimmer since Casey Barrett in 1997.
Hoagland, a graduate student, posted a GPA of 3.43 while working Master’s in Finance.
Johnson earned the honor on the women’s tennis side. Johnson had a breakout 2024 campaign, during which she took home AAC Player of the Year and All-Conference Team honors.
The graduate student, hailing from Prescott, Arizona, went 17-11 in single matches, featuring matchups against seven nationally-ranked opponents, highlighted by victories. The 17 victories were the most on the team.
In doubles play, Johnson also held down top doubles spot with partner Lana Mavor, finishing ranked No. 45 by the ITA.
Johnson’s contribution to the Mustangs’ success was significant, playing an instrumental role in securing their second consecutive AAC Championship.
Johnson maintained a 3.769 cumulative GPA while working towards her Master’s in Management from the Cox School of Business.
The American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards are among of a number of scholarships presented by the conference during the academic year.
Selections for the 23 Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, as well as the Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, are made by the Academic Committee on the basis of academic credentials and athletic performance.
Each conference school may nominate one student-athlete per sport who has achieved senior academic standing as determined by the institution. A winner is chosen from each of the conference’s 21 sponsored sports in addition to at-large selections from sports not sponsored by the conference.
Full list of award-winners can be found HERE.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: SMU’s Jack Hoagland Named AAC Men’s Scholar Athlete of the Year