Lodden, Swan Garner Spring Scholar-Athlete of the Season Honors
INDIANAPOLIS – Valparaiso senior Nolan Lodden and UIC senior Laura Swan have been named the Spring Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Season, respectively.
Lodden carried a 3.949 grade point average at Valparaiso as an electrical engineering major. The senior was named a First Team Academic All-American and was the first-such honoree in Crusaders baseball history. Lodden earned Valparaiso’s Finishing at the Top award that is presented to graduating student-athletes who own a cumulative GPA of at least 3.9. In addition, he garnered Valparaiso Presidential academic honors and Outstanding Student-Athlete award each of his two years. Lodden was also a member of the Horizon League All-League Teams in 2015 and 2016 as well as the Academic Honor Roll each semester eligible.
On the field for the Crusaders’ baseball team, Lodden was a First Team All-Horizon League honoree in 2016 after taking Second Team honors as a junior. The senior led the team in batting average (.356), hits (83), runs scored (57), doubles (18), and walks (36) and the conference in runs scored and doubles. Lodden moved to third in Valparaiso’s record books for single-season hits and runs scored. He earned All-Tournament Team accolades at the Horizon League Championship while going 8-for-17 with six runs and nine runs batted in. Lodden closed out his Crusaders career with a .343 batting average, 102 runs scored, 79 RBIs in 110 contests.
Swan graduated Magna Cum Laude at UIC while she majored in kinesiology and maintained a 3.82 GPA. The senior was a member of the Horizon League Honor roll in addition to the 2015 and 2016 Spring Academic All-League Teams. Swan was named a NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete, the UIC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year as a sophomore after posting a 4.0 cumulative GPA and member of the Dean’s List every eligible semester.
Swan was named to the First Team All-League, becoming the 14th player in program history to earn First Team three times. The senior played a vital role in capturing UIC’s second-consecutive Horizon League regular season championship as she was one of two to start and play all 51 games. Posted a batting average of .304 for the Flames this year while hitting a .370 mark at the plate during League play. In addition, collected 51 hits and led the team in RBIs with 43 and doubles with 15.
The Horizon League recognizes student-athletes at the conclusion of each of its three athletic seasons. To be eligible for Scholar-Athlete of the Season consideration, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 or higher (based on a 4.00 scale) and are honored on a combination of athletic and academic achievement.
