Leix becomes first WSU student-athlete to win Academic All-American award

Leix becomes first WSU student-athlete to win Academic All-American award: In the 60-year history of the Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for the Division II Woman’s At-Large program, no Wayne State student-athlete has ever won the award.

But that changed earlier this month when WSU swimmer Catherine Leix – who was a senior captain on the 2012 national champion women’s swimming and diving team – was voted the Academic All-American of the Year by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Leix also received the Detroit Athletic Club Michigan College Female Athlete of the Year Award last month – she is the first WSU student-athlete to win the award and only the second Division II recipient in the award’s seven-year history.

“I have felt so honored to be a part of such an amazing program and be recognized for these awards,” Leix said. “Having been chosen is a great, great honor.”

Graduating with a degree in science education, secondary with a minor in biology and a cumulative 3.95 grade point average, Leix exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete.

A 16-time All-American and a four-time GLIAC All-Academic Team selection, Leix had a perfect 4.0 term GPA six times, earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence accolades the last two years, was voted to the 2011 and 2012 CoSIDA Academic All-America At-Large First Team and was the WSU Department of Athletics Deans' Award winner in 2012 from the College of Education, according to wsuathletics.com.

“I have put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to get to where I am today,” Leix said. “I am very grateful for the recognition this work has earned me.”

Leix credited her coaching staff, specifically head coach Sean Peters, for developing her into the accomplished swimmer she is today.

“Sean, along with all of my coaches here at Wayne State, has provided me with the skills and rigorous training necessary to compete at the college level,” she said.

Peters praised Leix for her performance in the pool and in the classroom during her five years at WSU.

“Catherine was truly, truly a spectacular representative of Wayne State athletics,” he said. “[She] is a one of a kind.”

Asked how he would replace Leix, he said “you don’t” while chuckling. Although she has received numerous awards and accolades, Leix’s greatest moment at WSU was hoisting the national championship trophy.

“The team standing together on the podium as national champions is the best memory I have of swimming at Wayne State,” she said. “I could not have asked for a better end to my swimming career.”

National champion, All-American and College graduate—Catherine Leix has done it all at the collegiate level.

She has been busy these days post-swimming, finishing her student-teaching and was accepted into WSU’s pharmacy program, where she will study in the fall, she said.

As for swimming, she plans to stay out of the pool for a while.“I know I will start swimming again someday,” she said.“But after a 14-year career, I think it is time for a little break.”

A well-deserved break it is.