SACE October Champions of the Month
10/23/2024 5:04:00 PM | Student-Athlete Center for Excellence, Champions of the Month
Student-Athletes from Football, Men’s Track & Field, Softball and Volleyball selected as October Champions of the Month
WACO, Texas – Carl Williams IV (football), Ben Archer (men's track & field), Presleigh Pilon (softball) and Kendal Murphy (volleyball) have been selected as the Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (SACE) October 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.
Williams, who had a career-high seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in a 59-35 win over Texas Tech, is a sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, majoring in health, kinesiology and leisure studies. "I feel very blessed by all the opportunities Baylor has given me," said Williams, who has made 19 tackles overall this season from the STAR position.
Candynce Boney, Director of Academic Services, said Williams "has been pushing himself in the classroom since the summer term to be better each day than he was the day before. He's been able to do that while also excelling on the field."
A sophomore from Maple Valley, Washington, Archer has run in all four cross-country meets this fall and recorded a personal-best 8K time of 25:51.1 at last week's Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station. At Baylor, "there are opportunities for growth and collaboration that enhance both personal and professional development," he said.
Archer, a mechanical engineering major, has done "a phenomenal job carrying his academic caseload and has continued to excel in the classroom," said Travon Carter, Assistant Director of Academic Services. "As an engineering major, it is not easy to continually show the level of excellence he demonstrates. He is a great student-athlete and a joy to work with."
Pilon, a senior communications major from Murrieta, California, has started 117 consecutive games in two seasons at Baylor after transferring from LSU and hit .234 last year with five doubles, one home run and 20 RBIs. "I feel incredibly grateful for my coaches," she said. "They support and encourage me every day to do my best on the field and in the classroom."
On the Baylor Sports Ministry trip to Costa Rica in August, Presleigh "took advantage of every opportunity to step out of her comfort zone," said Holly McKenzie, Director of Sports Ministry. "She engaged in deep spiritual conversations during small group times, attempted to speak Spanish with the locals, installed shingles on a roof and played soccer with kids."
A sophomore from Scottsdale, Arizona, majoring in health, kinesiology and leisure studies, Murphy has had a breakout season on the volleyball court with eight double-digit kills in the first 13 matches, 2.54 kills per set and 17 service aces. "I knew this is where God wanted me," she said, "and He continues to show me every day why Baylor is perfect for me."
Josh Young, Assistant AD for Academic Services, said he has been "inspired by Kendal's academic prowess this semester. She has done a great job communicating and executing in the classroom this semester."
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.
Williams, who had a career-high seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in a 59-35 win over Texas Tech, is a sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, majoring in health, kinesiology and leisure studies. "I feel very blessed by all the opportunities Baylor has given me," said Williams, who has made 19 tackles overall this season from the STAR position.
Candynce Boney, Director of Academic Services, said Williams "has been pushing himself in the classroom since the summer term to be better each day than he was the day before. He's been able to do that while also excelling on the field."
A sophomore from Maple Valley, Washington, Archer has run in all four cross-country meets this fall and recorded a personal-best 8K time of 25:51.1 at last week's Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station. At Baylor, "there are opportunities for growth and collaboration that enhance both personal and professional development," he said.
Archer, a mechanical engineering major, has done "a phenomenal job carrying his academic caseload and has continued to excel in the classroom," said Travon Carter, Assistant Director of Academic Services. "As an engineering major, it is not easy to continually show the level of excellence he demonstrates. He is a great student-athlete and a joy to work with."
Pilon, a senior communications major from Murrieta, California, has started 117 consecutive games in two seasons at Baylor after transferring from LSU and hit .234 last year with five doubles, one home run and 20 RBIs. "I feel incredibly grateful for my coaches," she said. "They support and encourage me every day to do my best on the field and in the classroom."
On the Baylor Sports Ministry trip to Costa Rica in August, Presleigh "took advantage of every opportunity to step out of her comfort zone," said Holly McKenzie, Director of Sports Ministry. "She engaged in deep spiritual conversations during small group times, attempted to speak Spanish with the locals, installed shingles on a roof and played soccer with kids."
A sophomore from Scottsdale, Arizona, majoring in health, kinesiology and leisure studies, Murphy has had a breakout season on the volleyball court with eight double-digit kills in the first 13 matches, 2.54 kills per set and 17 service aces. "I knew this is where God wanted me," she said, "and He continues to show me every day why Baylor is perfect for me."
Josh Young, Assistant AD for Academic Services, said he has been "inspired by Kendal's academic prowess this semester. She has done a great job communicating and executing in the classroom this semester."
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