The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Knifton named Big 12 Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year
08.16.2023 | Rowing
Kate Knifton is the first Longhorn to earn the conference's rowing scholar-athlete of the year honor.
IRVING, Texas – Texas Rowing's Kaitlin Knifton was selected as the Big 12 Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference office announced on Wednesday. Knifton is the first Longhorn to earn the distinction and was selected as the award winner for Rowing based on the votes of the conference's head coaches.
Knifton carried a 4.0 grade point average as a graduate student, receiving her graduate certificate in sports communication. The Austin native was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America First Team selection in 2023, the first Texas rower to earn first-team accolades. A two-time Academic All-District honoree (2022-23), Knifton is a four-time CRCA National Scholar Athlete, three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection and 2019-20 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team honoree.
On the water, the 2023 Big 12 Rower of the Year is a three-time first-team All-American, three-time All-Big 12 selection and was named the 2022 USRowing U23 Co-Female Athlete of the Year. In 2023, she helped guide Texas to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships, the Longhorns' sixth consecutive top-four finish, rowing at stroke-seat in the Texas First Eight that placed fifth in the Grand Final at the NCAA championship regatta.
The Big 12 Conference established the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award during the 2012-13 academic year. A recipient is named in each conference-sponsored sport. Every Big 12 institution nominates a maximum of one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league head coaches for that sport. The coaches are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic or academic standing), have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team's scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year of residence at the institution.
