William Woods pitcher Andrew Fyffe was recognized Wednesday for his academic accomplishments when he earned the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award, the American Midwest Conference announced.
The former walk-on has accumulated a 3.86 GPA in his three years at William Woods while making appearances on the mound for the Owls and on campus in leadership roles.
The award is named for an NAIA former executive secretary who served 26 years, and since 1967, it has been presented to one male and one female student-athlete in any sport who has excelled in scholarship, character, and citizenship.
On the mound, Fyffe made 12 appearances, covering 25 innings and finishing with a 2-2 record. He had a 5.40 ERA but also had 24 strikeouts and a team-leading three saves. William Woods baseball head coach Chris Fletcher said Fyffe's leadership has meant a lot to the team.
"His tireless work ethic and ambitious attitude have propelled him to being a factor in our baseball program," Fletcher said. "This has led Andrew in becoming one of our team captains. Andrew brings the most energy each day for his teammates, and it's infectious for our team chemistry."
Fyffe is a former NAIA-Daktronics Scholar-Athlete as well as an AMC Academic All-American - a distinction he earned last season.
His campus work includes being a student ambassador, which involves him contacting potential students and providing on-campus tours to emphasize the positives of the university.
Fyffe is also the vice president of the Association of Student-Athletes, where he is involved in several matters of business. This included the contract talks that led to William Woods becoming a Nike school - the company will serve as the exclusive outfitter to all 16 of the Owls varsity athletic teams starting in July as part of a multi-year partnership.
Abby Prather-Turner, president of the Association of Student-Athletes and William Woods soccer player, has observed Fyffe's work ethic in action and said he is deserving of this award.
"Andrew's success on the field and in the classroom has been no accident," she said. "You rarely meet individuals with a work ethic so strong and passionate as his. In everything he does, he gives everything he has to ensure that he is successful and even those around him are successful."
Fyffe is now eligible for the NAIA A.O. Duer Scholarship Award. The winner will be announced in September during the NAIA National Awards Day.