Liberty League commissioner Tracy King has announced that
Mekayla Montgomery of William Smith College and
Walker Anderson of the Hobart College have been named the recipients of the 2020-21 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 Mekayla Montgomery and Walker Anderson 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. Mekayla and Walker epitomize what it means to be Division III student-athletes. Both are All-Liberty League performers, have earned national recognition for academic success and are individuals of great character. 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, Montgomery will also be the league’s nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award.
A four-year starter,
Montgomery had a record breaking career for the Herons. The two-time Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year holds the Herons game (12), season (93) and career (233) records for draw controls and the career record for caused turnovers (120). Including her senior season, Montgomery is responsible for three of the top six seasons in the draw circle in program history. In addition, her name appears five times in the top-10 and 11 times in the top 25 on the single-game draw list. Montgomery's 176 ground balls are tied for sixth on the all-time list. In 59 games, she produced 14 points on nine goals and five assists. A team captain, Montgomery helped the Herons capture three straight Liberty League championships and make three trips to the NCAA tournament.
Montgomery was named to five different All-America teams in her career. This season, she was named a first team All-American by the IWLCA and USA Lacrosse Magazine. Montgomery was named an IWLCA third team All-American as a first-year and earned a spot on the second team as a sophomore. In the pandemic shortened 2020 season, she was tabbed a first team All-American by Inside Lacrosse. In addition, Montgomery was named a 2019-20 College All-American Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year.
A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, Montgomery graduated summa cum laude in May with a bachelor's degree in psychology and education. She is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection and was named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll in 2019. Montgomery is a Blackwell Scholar and a member of Psi Chi, the international psychology honor society.
In the community, Montgomery is a One Love Foundation advocate and escalation workshop leader, furthering the foundation's mission to teach young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better. She was a finalist for the 2020 Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award. Montgomery was also a member of William Smith's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Montgomery also spent a month in Nidjje, Uganda, working for the non-profit, Hope for Children and Women of Violence.
A member of Hobart's three honor societies (Druid, Chimera and Orange Key),
Anderson graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in history and psychological sciences. He is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection and a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete. Anderson was presented with the 2021 John Rothrock Memorial Prize, the 2021 Psychology Book Prize, the 2020 Latin American Studies Prize and the 2019 History Faculty Award. He is a member of the Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. Anderson was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American twice, earning first team honors in 2020 and second team honors in 2019.
On the court, Anderson posted a career record of 34-23 in singles play and 48-26 in doubles play. He was a three-time All-Liberty League selection in both singles and doubles and earned ITA All-American recognition in doubles after winning the 2018 ITA Northeast Region Championship. Anderson was a career best 21-10 in doubles matches in 2018-19 with Alan Dubrovsky '20. Anderson's best singles season came during his rookie year, posting a 13-6 mark.
Anderson was 5-2 in the No. 1 singles spot this year, winning the final four matches of the season. In doubles, he was 7-1 in the No. 1 spot with Jett Wright. Anderson earned All-Liberty League first-team honors in singles and doubles. Anderson and Wright were ranked 23rd in the nation and seventh in the Northeast in the 2021 ITA doubles rankings.
A two-time team captain, Anderson is also a leader in the community. He helped teach weekly youth tennis clinics and participated in the Colleges' sponsored Days of Service all four years on campus. In 2020, Anderson volunteered on the Gallatin River Task Force in Big Sky, Mont. He has also helped lead a middle school mission trip to Memphis, Tenn. Anderson was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, was a student representative on the Committee for Academic Affairs and served on the Committee for Faculty Promotion.
Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year
2020-21
Mekayla Montgomery, William Smith College, Women's Lacrosse
Walker Anderson, Hobart College, Men's Tennis
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