RICHARDSON, TX (05.30.13) - Juniors Kyle Schleigh and Casey Johnson have been named the UT Dallas Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year for 2012-13. The two Comets were chosen from the pool of UTD sport Most Valuable Players by a vote of the coaches and athletic staff.


A native of Houston, Schleigh was named both the ASC East Division Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Comets to a fifth straight division crown. He was tabbed All-ASC for the second straight season after leading the conference in scoring with 21.4 points per game and ranking second in the league in rebounding with 9.9 boards per outing. He was a 52.3 percent (8th in ASC) shooter from the field and added 3.1 assists (11th in ASC) and a league-best 2.2 steals per game.

An accounting major, Schleigh was a third team All-America selection by both the NABC and D3Hoops.com and was tabbed first team CoSIDA Academic All-District for the second straight year. He was a seven-time ASC East Player of the Week during the season, giving him 10 such honors in his career. He was recently named the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for men's basketball in the ASC. With one season remaining, Schleigh is already UTD's all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots and ranks third all-time in scoring. He became the first Comet junior to top the 1,000-point mark. Schleigh helped lead the Comets to a fifth straight trip to the ASC semifinals and was named to the ASC All-Tournament Team.

Junior soccer player Michael Darrow was second in the male voting while senior tennis player Dustin Foster was third. Other male candidates for the award were sophomore golfer Johnny Begzos, junior cross country runner Jordan Newcomer and senior baseball player Jacob Price.

Johnson, a business administration major from Plano, was named the Most Outstanding Player at the ASC Tournament after leading UT Dallas to its first-ever conference title. She was 11-1 overall in singles play this spring with her only loss coming in the Comets' NCAA Division III National Tournament first-round match. Johnson added a 13-4 record in doubles play, competing with three different partners over the course of the season.

She was invited to compete in the NCAA D-III National Individual Tournament in singles but withdrew due to injury. Johnson helped guide UTD to a 15-4 overall record and a perfect 6-0 mark in the division play for the program's first ASC East crown. She was named All-ASC and was a first team All-ASC East pick in both singles and doubles. Johnson was tabbed the ASC East  Newcomer of the Year and was named the ASC East Player of the Week on March 21.

Senior volleyball player Halea Williams was second in the female voting while senior basketball player Katie Korioth was third. Other female candidates for the award were sophomore cross country runner Mel Cavage, senior soccer player Taylor Maeker, senior softball player Jeni Olbeter and sophomore golfer Alejandra Serrate.

A list of all-time award recipeints for men and women is below.

MEN

2003-04	Anthony Adler, Baseball
2004-05	Ali Morshedi, Soccer
2005-06	Randy Black, Baseball
2006-07	Martin Salinas, Basketball
	Travis Carruthers, Basketball
2007-08	Mark Cox, Baseball
2008-09	Ernie Lowery, Basketball
2009-10	Scott Rodgers, Basketball
2010-11	Chris Barnes, Basketball
2011-12	Chris Barnes, Basketball
2012-13	Kyle Schleigh, Basketball

WOMEN

2003-04	Candace Felts, Softball
2004-05	Anglea Wightman, Soccer/Cross Country
2005-06	Natalie Taylor, Soccer
2006-07	Theresa Buckles, Soccer
2007-08	Kelli Jackson, Soccer
2008-09	Chelsea Edwards, Basketball
2009-10	Nikki Calverley, Volleyball
2010-11	Nikki Calverley, Volleyball
2011-12	Leah Bowyer, Soccer
	Lyndsey Smith, Basketball
2012-13	Casey Johnson, Tennis