Gustafson named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year
Megan Gustafson added one more accolade to her long list of achievements on Wednesday.
Iowa center Megan Gustafson smiles after receiving the “Most Outstanding Player in the Big Ten Tournament” during the women’s Big Ten Championship basketball game vs. Maryland at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday, March 10, 2019. The Hawkeyes defeated the Terrapins 90-76 and are the Big Ten champions.
July 3, 2019
Megan Gustafson may have finished her career at Iowa, but she hasn’t stopped racking up awards from her days as a Hawkeye.
Gustafson has earned Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year, the conference announced July 3. On the men’s side, Penn State wrestler Bo Nickel won the honor.
Gustafson became the first Hawkeye to collect the award since field-hockey player Kristy Gleason scooped it up in 1994.
The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native led the nation in numerous categories last season, including points per game (27.8), field-goal percentage (69.6), and double-doubles (33).
She was also the first Big Ten student-athlete to be named the consensus National Player of the Year, scoring honors from the AP, Naismith Award, ESPNW, and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Gustafson also won the Senior CLASS Award, which focuses on the complete student-athlete. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be an NCAA Division-1 senior and possess notable achievements in four areas: classroom, community, character, and competition.
She impressed people even further in the postseason, winning Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player while leading Iowa to a tournament victory. Gustafson also helped the Hawkeyes to an Elite Eight appearance, Iowa’s first since 1993.
Each Big Ten school nominated a male and female student-athlete for the award. Iowa also submitted Spencer Lee, who won his second-consecutive national title at 125 pounds in March.
The field included 11 national champions, 25 All-Americans, 16 Big Ten champions, 14 Big Ten Player of the Years, and six National Player of the Years.
