Royal Oak Diver is WSU's Student-Athlete of the Year

Wayne State University Director of Athletics Rob Fournier has announced the 2012-13 Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year. Candidates were judged on academic distinction, athletic accomplishments, individual involvement and University and community service, as well as coaches' recommendation.

Senior basketball player Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) and senior diver Carly Sevald (Royal Oak, Mich./Mercy) were selected as the 2012-13 male and female student-athletes of the year after being nominated by their respective coaches with voting by the athletic department's coaches and administrative staff.

"In a year of many outstanding achievements in competition and in the classroom, Carly and Ian are fitting representatives of those successes," said Fournier. "Both excelled in statistical records evidenced by Carly's national championship during her enrollment and Ian's success in advancing our basketball team to the NCAA post-season two of the last three years. But what should not be overlooked is their leadership and example in creating an environment for future successes and for other to emulate."

Larkin had an outstanding senior season being selected to the NABC All-Midwest Region Second Team after being voted to the All-GLIAC First Team. A CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honoree, Larkin also earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors for the third consecutive year.

A business/management major, Larkin was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term gpa 3.5+) six times with one 4.00 term, while also being named to the Coach's Honor Roll (term gpa 3.0-3.49) the other two semesters. 

A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection as well as a 2012 GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient, Larkin became only the third player in 95 years of WSU basketball to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocked shots. He scored in double figures 50 times and had 10 games of at least 20 points and concluded his collegiate career ranked 17th in all-time scoring at WSU with 1,022 points.

Sevald was an eight-time All-American during her Warrior career, the most possible by a diver, earning seven First Team All-America accolades (top eight on a board) while also becoming the second women's diving national champion in program history, winning the 2012 three-meter competition with a score of 503.40.

A 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American honoree, Sevald was twice named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence team after receiving GLIAC All-Academic recognition for 2010-11. The early childhood (elementary) education major was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term gpa 3.5+) five times including three terms with 4.00 semester GPA. She also earned Coach's Honor Roll (term gpa 3.0-3.49) her other three semesters.

This is the 12th year of the WSU Student-Athlete of the Year award. The first recipients were softball player Kelly Kashmerick and hockey player David Guerrera, while cross country runner Shelly Vickery and hockey player Dustin Kingston were the 2002-03 honorees. The first four honorees have since been inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

The 2003-04 student-athletes of the year were women's hockey player Kim Spaulding and swimmer David Lutz. Lutz became the first two-time winner in 2004-05 along with Anna Vinnikov, a member of the women's fencing squad. The 2005-06 recipients were diver Erika Barczak and swimmer Nick Ingrao, while the 2006-07 recipients were Anna Garina, a national champion fencer, and Kris Krzyminski, an All-American basketball player.

All-American baseball pitcher Anthony Bass and Barczak were selected following the 2007-08 school year, with swimmers Ashley St. Andrew and Sean Smith being voted for the 2008-09 season. Softball pitcher Casey Hanes and swimmer Cauli Bedran were the 2009-10 recipients, while baseball catcher Mike Wiseman and tennis student-athlete Sharon Gill were honored following the 2010-11 school year. A pair of All-Americans, swimmer Catherine Leixand football running back Josh Renel, were selected as the 2011-12 Student-Athletes of the Year. Leix helped lead the swimmers to a national title, while Renel's play helped the football team play in the national championship game.

Source: Wayne State University