Apple Valley High Grad Sophia Leong Wins Student-Athlete Honor

RIVER FALLS, WI —Apple Valley High School graduate Sophia Leong has been getting the job done on and off the ice at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she is a senior defenseman for the Division III Falcons.

Recently, Leong was named the 2021-2022 winner of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Hockey Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Hockey Scholar-Athlete Award.

Leong also was one of seven players from UW-River Falls to be named All-WIAC First Team for the 2021-22 season.

"For Soph to get the scholar-athlete (award) was really neat. She's an incredible person, great hockey player, great kid," UW-River Falls head coach Joe Cranston said about Leong, who also was an all-conference, first-team selection as a junior.

The Falcons are 26-1-0 entering Wednesday night's NCAA Division III Tournament game against Aurora University.

Leong, a team captain, is the fourth UW-River Falls player to earn the scholar-athlete award, which is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments, and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects. To be eligible, athletes must be in their last year of competition or on schedule to graduate the year the award is presented.

A Communications Studies and Disorder major, Leong has maintained a 3.85 grade-point average and she is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and two-time AHCA All-American Scholar.

Leong is a member of the UW-River Falls Honors Program and is a four-year member of the Falcons women's lacrosse team.

On the ice, Leong leads the Falcons with 30 blocked shots this season, and she has 3 goals and 11 assists for career-high 14 points. In 81 career games, Leong has seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points.