BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Loyola Maryland graduate student Max Verheyen was named the 2024 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year year when academic honors were announced by the League office. American senior Mimi Watts earned women’s swimming and diving scholar-athlete of the year for the second straight year.
The pair were also named to their respective Academic All-Patriot League Teams, comprised of other swimming and diving student-athletes from the Patriot League. Seven of the 10 schools were represented on this year's Academic All-Patriot League men's and women's teams with Army West Point and Navy both placing six members on the two teams (three men, three women).
Verheyen is joined by a pair of teammates – junior Patrick Hayburn and junior Henry Mueller - on the 2023-24 Patriot League Men's All-Academic team. American senior Nick Buckley, Army West Point senior James Pinter, junior CJ Bernauer and sophomore Joey Kling, Boston University graduate student Kyle Falkstrom, Bucknell junior Chris Kopac, and Navy senior Patrick Colwell, junior Jake Douberly and sophomore Gavin Green were all named to the academic team.
On the women's team, Watts is joined by Army junior Meghan Cole, junior Margaret Kroening and sophomore Molly Webber. Boston University senior Sumi Cameron, Bucknell senior Esme Hunter and senior Caroline McGann, Lehigh graduate student Sarah Hardy, Loyola senior Lily Mead, and Navy senior Gabi Baldwin and Cameron Horner, and junior Caroline Irwin were all recognized on the academic team.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen or students in their first academic year at their school are not eligible for the honor.
The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year winner for each sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for the honors.
2024 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Max Verheyen, Loyola Maryland, Gr., Baltimore, Md./Gilman School
* Verheyen holds a 4.0 GPA as he pursues a Master’s degree in Emerging Media at Loyola Maryland.
* He graduated with a degree in Psychology in May 2023 from Loyola with a 3.878 GPA.
* Verheyen earned Loyola’s Mohler Award as the top male senior student-athlete last year.
* He is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, Psi Chi, Chi Alpha Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa.
* He is a four-time All-Patriot League First Team member, a three-time CSCAA Scholar All-American and a two-time Patriot League All-Academic Team member.
* He was a member of the meet-record-setting 200-yard medley relay at the 2024 League Championships.
* He recorded two third-place finishes at the championships in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke.
2024 Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Mimi Watts, American, Sr., Raleigh, N.C./Enloe
* Watts is a mathematics and economics major with a 3.86 GPA at American.
* The senior was named a CSCAA Scholar All-American in 2021 and 2022 to become the first American student-athlete to receive the honor since 2010.
* She was a member of the First-Team All-Patriot League in 2022-24.
* She has won nine Patriot League medals over three League Championships.
* Watts finished first in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle at the 2024 championship.
* Watts has six school records this season: 50-yard free, 100-yard free, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard free relay, 400-yard free relay, and 200-yard medley relay.
2024 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Max Verheyen, Loyola Maryland
2024 Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Mimi Watts, American
2024 Patriot League Women’s Swimming and Diving All-Academic Team
Mimi Watts, American, Sr.
Meghan Cole, Army West Point, Jr.
Margaret Kroening, Army West Point, Jr.
Molly Webber, Army West Point, So.
Sumi Cameron, Boston University, Sr.
Esme Hunter, Bucknell, Sr.
Caroline McGann, Bucknell, Sr.
Sarah Hardy, Lehigh, Gr.
Lily Mead, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Gabi Baldwin, Navy, Sr.
Cameron Horner, Navy, Sr.
Caroline Irwin, Navy, Jr.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Swimming and Diving All-Academic Team
Nick Buckley, American, Sr.
James Pinter, Army West Point, Sr.
CJ Bernauer, Army West Point, Jr.
Joey Kling, Army West Point, So.
Kyle Falkstrom, Boston University, Gr.
Chris Kopac, Bucknell, Jr.
Patrick Hayburn, Loyola Maryland, Jr.
Henry Mueller, Loyola Maryland, Jr.
Max Verheyen, Loyola Maryland, Gr.
Patrick Colwell, Navy, Sr.
Jake Douberly, Navy, Jr.
Gavin Green, Navy, So.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.