Photo by: GoDucks.com
McMorris and Buchner Rack Up National Awards
04/26/22 | Acrobatics & Tumbling
EUGENE, Ore. – The awards continue to roll in for Oregon ahead of the NCATA National Championships.
One day after Alyssa Hew earned All-American honors and Sara Buchner was named to the All-Academic team, the NCATA announced that Blessyn McMorris was named Freshman of the Year, and Buchner earned the Louise Goodrum Academic Award.
McMorris is Oregon's first-ever NCATA Freshman of the Year. The Illinois-native competed in nine heats and team event during her debut season for the Ducks. As a base, McMorris helped Oregon average a 9.78 or higher in each of the three pyramid heats, as well as a 9.84 in the compulsory pyramid and a 9.77 in the compulsory toss. She helped UO to seven scores of 9.90 or higher this season while winning three NCATA Freshman of the Week awards.
"I couldn't have picked someone more deserving for Freshman of the year than Blessyn," Oregon head coach Taylor Susnara said. "She is such a privilege to coach, as she gives nothing less than 100 percent every day. She has contagious energy and is a natural leader."
Buchner is Oregon's second-ever winner of the Louise Goodrum Academic Award, joining Hannah Esterman. The award is presented to the junior or senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average whose team earned a berth participating in the NCATA national championship tournament, similar to the NCAA's Elite 90 award.
The senior biology major has a 4.0 grade-point average and is a member of the Robert D. Clark Honors College. Buchner recently committed to attend Cooper Medical School at Rowan University after she graduates from Oregon this Spring. On the mat, she emerged as a contributor in aerial tumbling with a 9.925 against Azusa Pacific, Oregon's best score in the heat since 2016.
"Sara is a model student-athlete who never fails to surpass expectations on and off the mat. She has given her all to this program and university, and her legacy will not be forgotten," Susnara said.
The Ducks are back on the mat this weekend for the NCATA National Championships. Meets start at 11 a.m. on Thursday and No. 5 Oregon will battle No. 4 Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. in Matthew Knight Arena. The meet will be streamed on ESPN+.
Fans can purchase tickets for the NCATA National Championships at am.ticketmaster.com/oregonducks/AcroTix.
One day after Alyssa Hew earned All-American honors and Sara Buchner was named to the All-Academic team, the NCATA announced that Blessyn McMorris was named Freshman of the Year, and Buchner earned the Louise Goodrum Academic Award.
McMorris is Oregon's first-ever NCATA Freshman of the Year. The Illinois-native competed in nine heats and team event during her debut season for the Ducks. As a base, McMorris helped Oregon average a 9.78 or higher in each of the three pyramid heats, as well as a 9.84 in the compulsory pyramid and a 9.77 in the compulsory toss. She helped UO to seven scores of 9.90 or higher this season while winning three NCATA Freshman of the Week awards.
"I couldn't have picked someone more deserving for Freshman of the year than Blessyn," Oregon head coach Taylor Susnara said. "She is such a privilege to coach, as she gives nothing less than 100 percent every day. She has contagious energy and is a natural leader."
Buchner is Oregon's second-ever winner of the Louise Goodrum Academic Award, joining Hannah Esterman. The award is presented to the junior or senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average whose team earned a berth participating in the NCATA national championship tournament, similar to the NCAA's Elite 90 award.
The senior biology major has a 4.0 grade-point average and is a member of the Robert D. Clark Honors College. Buchner recently committed to attend Cooper Medical School at Rowan University after she graduates from Oregon this Spring. On the mat, she emerged as a contributor in aerial tumbling with a 9.925 against Azusa Pacific, Oregon's best score in the heat since 2016.
"Sara is a model student-athlete who never fails to surpass expectations on and off the mat. She has given her all to this program and university, and her legacy will not be forgotten," Susnara said.
The Ducks are back on the mat this weekend for the NCATA National Championships. Meets start at 11 a.m. on Thursday and No. 5 Oregon will battle No. 4 Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. in Matthew Knight Arena. The meet will be streamed on ESPN+.
Fans can purchase tickets for the NCATA National Championships at am.ticketmaster.com/oregonducks/AcroTix.
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