Irving, Texas – The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2023 Spring Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The following student-athletes have been selected as award winners for their respective sports based on the votes of each sport’s respective head coaches.

Big 12 Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Braden Barry, West Virginia, Jr., Louisville, Ky.

• Finance major with a 3.73 GPA who participated in every contest this season.
• Hit .290 with eight home runs, 19 doubles, four triples, 44 runs batted in and 57 runs scored.
• Three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2021-23) and a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection.

Big 12 Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Johnny Keefer, Baylor, RJr., San Antonio, Texas

• Major in Accounting with a 3.68 GPA and participated in every tournament this season.
• Averaged 71.62 strokes per round with five top-10 finishes, and made the cut at the NCAA Championships.
• Four-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree (2020-23) who earned a CSC Academic All-District nod in 2023.

Big 12 Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Anna Dong, Texas Tech, Sr., Guangzhou, China

• Posted a 4.00 GPA while majoring in Sport Management and participated in 75% of tournaments.
• Averaged 73.67 strokes per round, including a tie for medalist honors at the Columbia Classic.
• Named to Academic All-Big 12 teams five times (2019-23).

Big 12 Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Kaitlin Knifton, Texas, Gr., Austin, Texas

• Graduate in sport communication with a 4.00 GPA and 100 percent participation.
• Named Big 12 Rower of the Year as she led Texas to a Big 12 Championship.
• Five-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2019-23) and four-time CRCA National Scholar-Athlete (2020-23).

Big 12 Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Grace Lyons, Oklahoma, RSr., Peoria, Ariz.

• Held a 3.89 GPA while pursuing an MBA and 89 percent participation this season.
• Hit .331 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs, earning her third consecutive Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors as the Sooners went 61-1 to win the Big 12 regular season title, the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship and the NCAA Championship.
• A three-time CSC Academic All-American (2021-23) and a five-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree (2019-23).

Big 12 Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Eliot Spizzirri, Texas, Sr., Greenwich, Conn.

• Majoring in finance with a 3.79 GPA and competed in every match this season.
• Named ITA National Player of the Year and Big 12 Player of the Year, posting a 36-5 singles record and reaching the NCAA Championship match in doubles.
• Three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree (2021-23) and 2023 CSC Academic All-American.

Big 12 Women’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Miska Kadleckova, Iowa State, Jr., Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

• Maintained a 3.76 GPA as an kinesiology and health major with 100 percent participation in contests this season.
• Earned All-Big 12 second team honors in both singles and doubles, posting records of 29-11 in singles and 30-10 in doubles.
• Three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete (2021-23) and three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2021-23).

Big 12 Men’s Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Yusuf Bizimana, Texas, Jr., London, England

• Holds a 3.23 GPA while majoring in advertising with 100 percent participation.
• Was the NCAA Champion in the indoor 800m and was runner-up in the outdoor 800m.
• Two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection (2022-23).

Big 12 Women’s Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Julien Alfred, Texas, Gr., Castries, St. Lucia

• A graduate student in youth and community studies with a 3.34 GPA and 71% participation.
• Named Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year after winning five national titles and helping UT win the outdoor NCAA Championship.
• Earned USTFCCA National Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.

The Big 12 Conference established its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2012-13. A recipient is named in each conference-sponsored sport. Every Big 12 institution nominates one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league head coaches for that sport, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing), have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team’s scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.