ISU Leads Big 12 With Three Spring Scholar-Athletes

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State had a league-leading three student-athletes selected as 2021 Big 12 Spring Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the conference announced on Thursday. Maty Cancini (women's tennis), Eric Fogltanz (men's track & field) and Sami Williams (softball) were each selected for the honor based on a vote of each sport's respective head coaches.

Cancini, a native of Valencia, Venezuela, becomes the first-ever Cyclone to be name the Big 12 Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Cancini graduated with a degree in information systems and business analytics, holding a 3.78 GPA. She is also a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection. Canini helped lead the Cyclones to a 14-8 record and the first NCAA Championship berth in school history, going 13-17 while playing No. 2 singles.

Fogltanz, who is the first Cyclone to earn the men's track and field honor, recently wrapped up an outstanding collegiate career in the Cardinal & Gold. Majoring in human computer interactions, Fogltanz maintained a 3.92 GPA and was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Teamer. The native of Manitowoc, Wis., qualified for NCAA Outdoor Championship for third-straight time in the 400-meter hurdles, earning Second Team All-America honors with a 12th place finish in 50.48.

Williams, who just completed her master's degree in information systems and business analytics with a 3.93 GPA, is now a two-time Big 12 Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2019). The star shortstop was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, and is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American. On the field, Williams became the program's first-ever NFCA First Team All-American in 2021. She holds Iowa State's career records for hits (329), doubles (79), home runs (67), RBI (180), runs scored (212), games played (253) and at-bats (833).

The Big 12 Conference established its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2012-13. A recipient is named in each conference-sponsored sport. Every Big 12 institution and affiliate members nominate one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league head coaches for that sport, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (academic standing), have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team's scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.