George Washington University Athletics
Laguna, Taylor Honored as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars
3/18/2019 3:12:00 PM | Men's Squash, Water Polo, Academic Services
Pair of Colonials received award from national magazine
WASHINGTON - George Washington's Juan Sebastian Laguna (Men's Squash) and Matt Taylor (Men's Water Polo) have been honored as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars of the Year in their respective sports. The awards, presented annually by the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education since 1992, honor student-athletes exemplifying the highest standards of scholarship, athleticism and humanitarianism.
Laguna recently finished his junior season with nine victories playing at Nos. 5, 6, and 7. The Bogota, Colombia, native provided the match-clinching victory to upset Navy back in January before helping the Colonials claim their second straight College Squash Association Hoehn Cup (B-Division) title last month.
The economics major has also excelled in the classroom with a 3.58 cumulative GPA. He's been recognized as a CSA Scholar Athlete and honored on the GW Athletics Academic Dean's List.
Taylor returned to the pool after missing last season due to injury and made an impact in net for the Colonials on their historic run to a second straight Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference title and the NCAA quarterfinals.
The redshirt junior from Auckland, New Zealand, totaled 99 saves, stopping 63.1 percent of the shots he faced. He'll enter his final season in Buff and Blue No. 2 in program history with a save percentage of 54.7 percent (462 saves-844 shots faced).
An Electrical Engineering major, Taylor owns a 3.85 cumulative GPA, which has earned him recognition on the ACWPC All-Academic Team, CWPA Scholar-Athlete Team and the GW Athletics and university Dean's Lists. He was also GW's nominee for the Elite 90 Award at the NCAA Championship.
In addition, both Colonials have logged at least 30 hours of community service over the past three years.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education considered nearly 1,000 nominations in 39 sports before handing out the honors named after tennis great Arthur Ashe, Jr. Nominees for the award must be at least a sophomore academically, maintain a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA and be active on campus and in their community.
Laguna recently finished his junior season with nine victories playing at Nos. 5, 6, and 7. The Bogota, Colombia, native provided the match-clinching victory to upset Navy back in January before helping the Colonials claim their second straight College Squash Association Hoehn Cup (B-Division) title last month.
The economics major has also excelled in the classroom with a 3.58 cumulative GPA. He's been recognized as a CSA Scholar Athlete and honored on the GW Athletics Academic Dean's List.
Taylor returned to the pool after missing last season due to injury and made an impact in net for the Colonials on their historic run to a second straight Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference title and the NCAA quarterfinals.
The redshirt junior from Auckland, New Zealand, totaled 99 saves, stopping 63.1 percent of the shots he faced. He'll enter his final season in Buff and Blue No. 2 in program history with a save percentage of 54.7 percent (462 saves-844 shots faced).
An Electrical Engineering major, Taylor owns a 3.85 cumulative GPA, which has earned him recognition on the ACWPC All-Academic Team, CWPA Scholar-Athlete Team and the GW Athletics and university Dean's Lists. He was also GW's nominee for the Elite 90 Award at the NCAA Championship.
In addition, both Colonials have logged at least 30 hours of community service over the past three years.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education considered nearly 1,000 nominations in 39 sports before handing out the honors named after tennis great Arthur Ashe, Jr. Nominees for the award must be at least a sophomore academically, maintain a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA and be active on campus and in their community.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Squash
GK
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