KCAC announces women's champions of character, academic honors

WICHITA, KAN. – In anticipation of the 2022-23 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships tomorrow, the KCAC has announced its champions of character and scholar athletes for each program.

Makenna Laher was named the KCAC Champion of Character for the Morningside women's swim team, as presented by IMA Financial Group and Dissinger Reed. 

The KCAC's character programs are based on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Champions of Character program, which aims to inspire student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans to hold high standards and embody what character truly means in a competitive arena. By keeping the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership at the heart of the athletics experience, the Champions of Character program empowers participants to change the culture of sport.

The KCAC also announced its 2022-23 Scholar Athlete academic awards, presented by Barnes & Noble College, recognizing athletes of at least sophomore status that maintain a 3.250 or better GPA. Morningside had nine athletes named to the list, tying for the second-highest total of competing schools.

The Mustangs receiving the scholar athlete distinction are Mackenzie Campbell, Josie Dike, Grace Holzerland, Megan Keller, Makenna Laher, Emma Larsen, Sydney Lueth, Payton Miller, and Maddy Slaughter.

Competition in the conference meet begins on tomorrow, Feb. 2, and continues through Saturday, Feb. 4, in Fremont, Neb.