SAC and Catawba sports information

 SALISBURY — Catawba College guard Lyrik Thorne was voted the South Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Friday morning.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the SAC’s championship sports and is voted on by the SAC’s Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Thorne, a grad student who played at Ledford High, currently holds a 3.81 GPA in the Masters of Sports Management program at Catawba in addition to her numerous awards for her play on the court. Thorne was named 2024 SAC Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, D2CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year and a First Team All-American.

Thorne was a Dean’s List honoree nine times throughout her Catawba career, while also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Further, Thorne served in various leadership roles with Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, NASCAR, Boys and Girls Club, East Buchanan Middle School and the Pedal Factory.

This season, Thorne led Catawba to a SAC regular season title, its second consecutive year hosting the NCAA Southeast regional and became the program’s all-time leading scorer, finishing her illustrious career with 2,169 career points.

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Catawba’s Maks Minichowski has been named the South Atlantic Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Year, the conference announced.

The Lomianki Dolne, Poland, native set five program records for the Catawba Indians in his first season.

Minichowski collected three conference titles at the 2024 SAC Swimming Championships, bringing home gold in the 50 Freestyle (20.11), 100 Freestyle (43.78), and the 100 Breaststroke (52.94). He was also a member of four relays that collected third-place finishes, including the 200 Freestyle Relay, the 400 Freestyle Relay, the 200 Medley Relay, and the 400 Medley Relay.

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The South Atlantic Conference announced its WePlayed Sports Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for meets contested during the fourth week of competition.

Catawba’s Mikayla Jones was named Track Athlete of the Week.

Jones, a junior from Aurora, Ohio, won the women’s 10,000 meter-run at the Lee Invite. Her time of 34.32.17 is the third fastest in Division II this season.