Texas Tech University Athletics
Thames Named Student-Athlete of the Year
May 03, 2006 | Track and Field
May 3, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech Lady Raider Erin Grant and pole vaulter Sage Thames were named the Female and Male Student-Athletes of the Year Tuesday night at the annual Academic Awards Reception at United Spirit Arena. The event was sponsored by Plains Capital Bank and held in memory of former Red Raider assistant football coach Dave Brown, who passed away unexpectedly Jan. 10.
Thames, a junior pole vaulter, will be graduating in May and has plans to go to dental school. He is an All-American, a five-time All-Big 12 and two-time All-Midwest Region performer and a three-time national qualifier. In the classroom, Thames is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 first-team honoree with a degree in wildlife management.
Over 200 student-athletes, managers, athletic trainers and spirit squad members were honored on three levels of academic achievement - 3.0-3.39 (Merit Award), 3.4-3.74 (High Merit Award) and 3.75-4.0 (Excellence Award). Also recognized on the evening were Champs Life Skills awards for Excellence in Personal Development (volleyball) and Excellence in Outreach (soccer). The Lady Raider basketball program received the Team Excellence Award for producing the highest graduation and retention rates combined with team GPA.
Among the speakers for the event were Texas Tech president Dr. Jon Whitmore, Director of Athletics Gerald Myers and Associate Athletics Director for Student Services John Anderson.
