BELTON, Texas – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor student-athletes
Sante Parker, Jr. and
Maria Rico were honored by the American Southwest Conference and UMHB as the 2022-23 ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor recipients.
The Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor is the highest honor one can achieve as an American Southwest Conference student-athlete. The medal is awarded to one male and one female member of each institution's graduating class who has compiled the most outstanding record in academics, athletics and leadership over their collegiate career.
Sante Parker, Jr. (Football), a defensive lineman from Katy, was UMHB's male recipient. Parker boasted a 3.92 grade-point-average as a computer science major. He was a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-America selection and earned a trio of CSC Academic All-District awards. Parker also earned a pair of All-America honors this season, along with Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Region. Parker also collected ASC Defensive Player of the Year and ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year awards. He was a William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist for two consecutive seasons and received multiple all-ASC and academic all-ASC honors. Parker was also an ASC Player of the Week and D3football Team of the Week selection.
Maria Rico (Women's Soccer), a forward from Cedar Park, was UMHB's female recipient. Rico notched a 3.91 grade-point-average as a psychology major at UMHB. She was a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America selection this season and collected multiple First Team Region X and First Team All-ASC awards. Rico was also a two-time ASC Offensive Player of the Year. She led the Cru to the program's first ASC Women's Soccer Championship in 2022 and a first-round appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Rico led the league in goals (10), points (22) and shots on goal (29) in her senior season.
Recipients of the 2022-23 ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor represent 11 different conference sports.
