Gigi Gaspar Named Pac-12 Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year
LOS ANGELES– Prior to Arizona State Lacrosse's first-round matchup in the Pac-12 Tournament against the Oregon Ducks, Sun Devil Lacrosse's senior defender, Gigi Gaspar, was recognized by the conference as the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the year. This season, Gaspar leads the team in caused turnovers with 15, which is the fourth most in a single season in program history.
Academically, Gaspar has been named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor roll all three season and is in line for her fourth. She was also named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll in 2023. She is set to earn her B.S in Finance this spring, and currently holds a 3.92 GPA. The senior becomes the first Sun Devil women's lacrosse player to be named the Pac-12's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
ACADEMIC WEAPON ??
Gigi Gaspar is the @pac12 Lacrosse Scholar Athlete of the Year, and the first in Sun Devil Lacrosse history ?? pic.twitter.com/dI0xLouTpi
— Sun Devil Lacrosse (@SunDevilWLax) May 1, 2024
Over the last four years, Gaspar has started in all of her 67 career games as a Sun Devil and was named to her first national team roster for Canada in August 2023 after 26 ground balls (2nd most on team) and nine caused turnovers as a junior.
This season, Gaspar has 18 ground balls, trailing only Zoe Mazur's 33, and a season-high 15 caused turnovers. The defender has also converted on all four shots she's taken for four goals this season, the only four goals of her career.
In order to be eligible for the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must be a senior (in athletics eligibility) on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in at least 50 percent of the scheduled contests in the sport and have a minimum one year in residence at the institution. Each Pac-12 institution may nominate one individual per sport, and the winners are selected by a committee of Pac-12 staff members at the conclusion of each sport's regular season. The athletics accomplishments of the nominees are a consideration in voting for the award.
A Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be named in each of the Pac-12's 24 sponsored sports: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, beach volleyball, men's cross country, women's cross country, football, men's golf, women's golf, women's gymnastics, women's lacrosse, men's rowing, women's rowing, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's track & field, women's track & field, women's volleyball, and wrestling. The award was first established during the 2007-08 academic year.
ALSO NOMINATED: Kate Rothman, CAL; Madeline Pisani, COLO; Lexie Likins, ORE; Courtney Anderson, SDSU; Sarah Jaques, STAN; Claudia Shevitz, USC.