SACE March Champions of the Month
4/14/2025 10:51:00 AM | Student-Athlete Center for Excellence, Champions of the Month
Student-Athletes from Men’s Track & Field, Baseball, Volleyball and Soccer selected as March Champions of the Month
WACO, Texas – Nathaniel Ezekiel (men's track & field), Pearson Riebock (baseball), Victoria Davis (volleyball) and Kai Hayes (soccer) have been selected as the Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (SACE) March 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.
Named to the updated watch list for The Bowerman – college track & field's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy – Ezekiel is an eight-time All-American and Big 12 Indoor Performer of the Year and finished second in the 400 meters at the NCAA Indoor National Championships. "Being a student-athlete at Baylor means the opportunity to compete in the sport I love, focus on my education and connect with the strong Christian community," he said.
Set to graduate this summer with a degree in communications, Nate helped men's track and field achieve a program-high GPA in the fall. "More than just an accomplished athlete, he embodies the very spirit of Baylor Athletics through his leadership, positivity and unwavering support for his teammates," said Dr. Samantha Williams, assistant director of academic services.
Riebock has become a mainstay in the middle of Baylor baseball's lineup, hitting .364 with seven doubles, three triples, one homer and 18 RBIs, with 17 runs scored and five stolen bases. "I thank God every day for putting me at this university surrounded by a bunch of great people," he said. "It really means a lot to me to wear the BU every day and try to represent the university as well as I can."
A freshman from Rockwall, Texas, majoring in corporate communications, Pearson finished the fall semester with a 3.89 GPA and has "continued his strong performance into the spring, maintaining all A's and B's in his coursework thus far," said Ryan Amodei, associate director of academic services.
A junior from Santa Clarita, Calif., majoring in apparel merchandising, Davis was able to "creative direct and style a shoot for Trope magazine, where she honed her ability to stay focused, advocate for her vision and adapt without sacrificing quality," said Christal Peterson, Assistant AD for Character Formation. She also earned a chance to attend U of NYFW and experience New York Fashion Week firsthand.
Davis, who started 17 of the volleyball team's 31 matches in the fall, averaged 1.21 kills and 1.03 blocks per set and had a .292 attack percentage. "My Baylor experience has been filled with so many academic, athletic and professional opportunities," she said. "I am truly blessed to be at an institution that allows me to explore and excel in things."
A grad transfer from North Carolina, where she was a team co-captain in 2023, Hayes made seven starts in the 18 games she played for Baylor soccer in the fall and logged 864 minutes. "Being a student-athlete at Baylor means being able to freely trust the Lord in all that I do," she said. "To have faith in Him and be able to follow His way for me in the classroom and on the field means the world to me."
Beyond soccer and working on her MBA, Kai "leads team Bible studies, fostering a strong sense of community and support among her teammates," said Gabby Mueller, assistant character formation coordinator. "Through her leadership, faith and dedication to excellence, Kai Hayes is a role model for her peers and a deserving candidate for Champion 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.
Named to the updated watch list for The Bowerman – college track & field's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy – Ezekiel is an eight-time All-American and Big 12 Indoor Performer of the Year and finished second in the 400 meters at the NCAA Indoor National Championships. "Being a student-athlete at Baylor means the opportunity to compete in the sport I love, focus on my education and connect with the strong Christian community," he said.
Set to graduate this summer with a degree in communications, Nate helped men's track and field achieve a program-high GPA in the fall. "More than just an accomplished athlete, he embodies the very spirit of Baylor Athletics through his leadership, positivity and unwavering support for his teammates," said Dr. Samantha Williams, assistant director of academic services.
Riebock has become a mainstay in the middle of Baylor baseball's lineup, hitting .364 with seven doubles, three triples, one homer and 18 RBIs, with 17 runs scored and five stolen bases. "I thank God every day for putting me at this university surrounded by a bunch of great people," he said. "It really means a lot to me to wear the BU every day and try to represent the university as well as I can."
A freshman from Rockwall, Texas, majoring in corporate communications, Pearson finished the fall semester with a 3.89 GPA and has "continued his strong performance into the spring, maintaining all A's and B's in his coursework thus far," said Ryan Amodei, associate director of academic services.
A junior from Santa Clarita, Calif., majoring in apparel merchandising, Davis was able to "creative direct and style a shoot for Trope magazine, where she honed her ability to stay focused, advocate for her vision and adapt without sacrificing quality," said Christal Peterson, Assistant AD for Character Formation. She also earned a chance to attend U of NYFW and experience New York Fashion Week firsthand.
Davis, who started 17 of the volleyball team's 31 matches in the fall, averaged 1.21 kills and 1.03 blocks per set and had a .292 attack percentage. "My Baylor experience has been filled with so many academic, athletic and professional opportunities," she said. "I am truly blessed to be at an institution that allows me to explore and excel in things."
A grad transfer from North Carolina, where she was a team co-captain in 2023, Hayes made seven starts in the 18 games she played for Baylor soccer in the fall and logged 864 minutes. "Being a student-athlete at Baylor means being able to freely trust the Lord in all that I do," she said. "To have faith in Him and be able to follow His way for me in the classroom and on the field means the world to me."
Beyond soccer and working on her MBA, Kai "leads team Bible studies, fostering a strong sense of community and support among her teammates," said Gabby Mueller, assistant character formation coordinator. "Through her leadership, faith and dedication to excellence, Kai Hayes is a role model for her peers and a deserving candidate for Champion of the Month."
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