Liberty League commissioner Tracy King has announced that
Sophie Nick of Vassar College and
Garrett Renslow of the University of Rochester have been named the recipients of the 2019-20 Liberty League Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards.
Established following the 2012-13 academic year, the recipients of the Liberty League Scholar-Athlete are selected in a vote by the Liberty League member institutions. The awards are presented to graduating student-athletes – one female and one male – who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics and service/leadership throughout their time as student-athletes.
"I am pleased to announce that Sophie Nick and Garrett Renslow have been selected as the Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year,” said King. “The Scholar-Athlete awards represent the very best of the Liberty League and intercollegiate athletics – individuals who have achieved at elite levels academically and athletically while emerging as leaders on their campuses. Sophie and Garrett were both Academic All-Americans, All-Liberty League performers and great teammates who were instrumental in the success of their teams. It is only fitting that we recognize the dedication and commitment that they have demonstrated to their academic and athletic pursuits over the past four years.”
By virtue of her selection as the Liberty League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Nick will also be the league’s nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Nick, a senior biochemistry major, compiled a 3.93 cumulative grade point average. A starter in all 23 games this past season, she was selected as the Liberty League Player of the Year while leading the Brewers to a 19-8 overall record and a berth in the league championship game. Nick averaged 14.4 points per contest and 10.0 rebounds per game – both of which led the team. She ranked seventh in the Liberty League in points, third in rebounding and third in field goal percentage (.519). Nick also posted 31 assists, 28 steals and 16 blocks with nine double-doubles. Additionally, she was one of only three players to average a double-double in the league this season.
An All-League first-team selection for the third straight season, Nick was also selected as the league's Performer of the Week on Jan. 13, following wins over St. Lawrence and Clarkson that saw her average 18.5 points and 12.0 rebounds on the weekend. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honoree for the second straight season and went on to become the ninth student-athlete in Vassar history to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-American with her Second Team selection. Additionally, Nick was a D3Hoops.com All-East Region First Team and All-Metropolitan Division III First Team in 2019-20.
Nick, who led the Brewers in scoring over each of the last three seasons, is a Pre-Med student and will be attending the Duke University School of Medicine this fall. She spent the summer of 2019 as an undergraduate researcher, studying the Genomic investigation of a two-phase hospital-associated outbreak of Mycobacterium abscesses at Duke University Hospital.
Additionally, Nick has served as a volunteer at Vassar Medical Center in the Post Cardiac Unit, while also volunteering for the past six years at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Denver chapter. She has also been a student volunteer for various Vassar Athletics activities.
Renslow graduated from the University of Rochester with a 3.98 cumulative grade point average as a double-major in neuroscience and psychology. A four-year starter for the Yellowjacket baseball team, Renslow was a 2020 Preseason D3Baseball.com All-American. Like other spring sport student-athletes, his senior season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he was selected as a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American for the second straight season.
In 30 career appearances on the mound for the Yellowjackets, Renslow was 10-6 overall with three saves. He split time between the bullpen and as a starter, making 18 starts during his career. Overall, he tossed 109.6 innings and accumulated a 3.12 earned run average while striking out 107 batters. He concluded his career ranked among Rochester’s top-10 in strikeouts per nine innings (8.78). One of his career highlights came during the 2019 Liberty League Tournament when he tossed a 9-inning, no-hitter against Rensselaer. Just two days later he then started the winner-take-all game 7 of the tournament against Clarkson and earned the win, helping lift Rochester to its first-ever Liberty League Tournament title.
This past spring, Renslow was named as the Peter DiPasquale Male Scholar Athlete Award winner from the Rochester Athletic Department. He was elected Phi Beta Kappa during the spring semester and named a Lysle 'Spike' Garnish Scholar during the fall. The three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection also earned Dean's List honors in every eligible semester, was a Provost Circle Scholar and plans to attend medical school. He was a teacher's assistant for three classes, volunteered at Strong Memorial Hospital and was a part of the PATHS Program at the Mt. Hope Family Center.
Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year
2019-20
Sophie Nick, Vassar College, Women’s Basketball
Garrett Renslow, University of Rochester, Baseball
2018-19
Monica Feeley, Vassar College, Field Hockey
Edvinas Rupkus, Skidmore College, Men's Basketball
2017-18
Taryn Cordani, Ithaca College, Cross Country / Track & Field
Matthew Knigge, Vassar College, Men’s Vollebyall
2016-17
Caroline Conboy, William Smith College, Swimming & Diving
Kent Curran, Union College, Baseball
2015-16
Tara Lamberti, University of Rochester, Field Hockey
Jamie Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Men’s Golf
2014-15
Madeline Buckley, William Smith College, Soccer
John Coleman, Clarkson University, Basketball / Baseball
2013-14
Olivia Zitoli, William Smith College, Soccer
Richie Bonney, Hobart College, Basketball
2012-13
Emily D'Addario, William Smith College, Cross Country
Adam Updegrove, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Soccer / Swimming & Diving