SACE May Champions of the Month
5/31/2022 4:32:00 PM | Student-Athlete Center for Excellence, Champions of the Month
Student-Athletes from Cross Country, Track & Field and Football selected as May Champions of the Month.
WACO, Texas – Ellie Friesen (women's cross country), Caira Pettway (women's track & field), Alfonzo Allen (football) and Jaden Maronen (football) have been selected as the Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (SACE) May Champions of the Month.
This award recognizes student-athletes who achieve their personal bests in the areas of academic achievement, athletic success, character formation and spiritual growth.
Each of these student-athletes was nominated by a SACE team member based upon their embodiment of each of the four pillars.
A grad transfer from South Dakota State, where she earned All-Summit League honors in cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field, Friesen is working on a master's in Christian Ministry. "God giving me the opportunity to continue my track career at Baylor while studying at Truett Seminary has been the greatest blessing," she said. "I have been able to apply and share what I am taught at seminary with my teammates, friends and family."
Friesen was a scoring runner in all five meets that she competed in during the fall cross country season and earned All-Big 12 honors in indoor track with a sixth-place finish in the DMR. Academic coach Travon Carter said she is "someone that has excelled academically . . . while simultaneously being a good athlete. She continually puts in the hours to be successful. There is not much more you can ask for."
Qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in three events (long jump, 100 meters, 4x100 relay), Pettway broke the school record in the 100 meters twice this year and now holds three of the school's top five times all-time. "Caira has truly embodied what it means to be a student-athlete at Baylor," Carter said of Pettway, a two-time state champion in the long jump at Sunnyvale, Texas.
Already a business school graduate, Caira finished her work on a master's degree in accounting this spring and will go through the August graduation ceremony. "Ever since I took my first steps on campus, I have been surrounded by determined, faithful and uplifting students and staff," she said. "Baylor has provided me with a community that encourages me to excel in life and on the track."
A first-semester freshman from Miami, Fla., Alfonzo was part of the Baylor Sports Ministry's mission trip in May to La Place, La., and has handled the adjustment to college "with grace and a respect for those around him," said learning specialist Molly Pannell. "Alfonzo attacks every day with a good attitude and a willingness to put forth his best effort."
Rated a four-star prospect by both ESPN and Rivals, Allen was part of a 12-2 state championship team at Miami Central High School. "SACE and the Baylor Sports Ministry team have played a significant role in my development," he said. "SACE has pushed me to grow academically, while the sports ministry team has pushed me to grow spiritually. I'm thankful for both teams and look forward to working with them more in the near future."
Maronen, a redshirt freshman linebacker from Katy, Texas, was part of the "Juice Crew" that was credited for bringing the energy on the sidelines in the Big 12 champion Bears' 20-10 road win over Kansas State. He walked on at Baylor after being part of Katy High School's 13-1 state championship team in 2020.
Although Jaden went through a challenging spring semester in the classroom, "not once did he back down," learning specialist Ryan Jolivette said. "What would have been a stressful last month of the semester for any student in college classes, Jaden was able to not only complete it, but also earn great grades. He made the last month of his freshman year smooth and successful with all of his hard work."
This award recognizes student-athletes who achieve their personal bests in the areas of academic achievement, athletic success, character formation and spiritual growth.
Each of these student-athletes was nominated by a SACE team member based upon their embodiment of each of the four pillars.
A grad transfer from South Dakota State, where she earned All-Summit League honors in cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field, Friesen is working on a master's in Christian Ministry. "God giving me the opportunity to continue my track career at Baylor while studying at Truett Seminary has been the greatest blessing," she said. "I have been able to apply and share what I am taught at seminary with my teammates, friends and family."
Friesen was a scoring runner in all five meets that she competed in during the fall cross country season and earned All-Big 12 honors in indoor track with a sixth-place finish in the DMR. Academic coach Travon Carter said she is "someone that has excelled academically . . . while simultaneously being a good athlete. She continually puts in the hours to be successful. There is not much more you can ask for."
Qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in three events (long jump, 100 meters, 4x100 relay), Pettway broke the school record in the 100 meters twice this year and now holds three of the school's top five times all-time. "Caira has truly embodied what it means to be a student-athlete at Baylor," Carter said of Pettway, a two-time state champion in the long jump at Sunnyvale, Texas.
Already a business school graduate, Caira finished her work on a master's degree in accounting this spring and will go through the August graduation ceremony. "Ever since I took my first steps on campus, I have been surrounded by determined, faithful and uplifting students and staff," she said. "Baylor has provided me with a community that encourages me to excel in life and on the track."
A first-semester freshman from Miami, Fla., Alfonzo was part of the Baylor Sports Ministry's mission trip in May to La Place, La., and has handled the adjustment to college "with grace and a respect for those around him," said learning specialist Molly Pannell. "Alfonzo attacks every day with a good attitude and a willingness to put forth his best effort."
Rated a four-star prospect by both ESPN and Rivals, Allen was part of a 12-2 state championship team at Miami Central High School. "SACE and the Baylor Sports Ministry team have played a significant role in my development," he said. "SACE has pushed me to grow academically, while the sports ministry team has pushed me to grow spiritually. I'm thankful for both teams and look forward to working with them more in the near future."
Maronen, a redshirt freshman linebacker from Katy, Texas, was part of the "Juice Crew" that was credited for bringing the energy on the sidelines in the Big 12 champion Bears' 20-10 road win over Kansas State. He walked on at Baylor after being part of Katy High School's 13-1 state championship team in 2020.
Although Jaden went through a challenging spring semester in the classroom, "not once did he back down," learning specialist Ryan Jolivette said. "What would have been a stressful last month of the semester for any student in college classes, Jaden was able to not only complete it, but also earn great grades. He made the last month of his freshman year smooth and successful with all of his hard work."
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