Chin Agina (women's track & field), Jacky Wagner (women's tennis) and Jakob Schnaitter (men's tennis), have been selected as the 2020-21 PacWest Scholar-Athlete of the Year for their respective sport. It is the second consecutive year in which three Cougars earned the distinction, and it continues Azusa Pacific's streak of two or more award-winners each year since joining the conference in 2013-14.
The Scholar-Athlete of the Year award recognizes one student-athlete from each of the PacWest's 15 sponsored sports for their academic and athletic achievements during the year. Student-athletes are first nominated, and then voted on by administrators at PacWest institutions.
Agina closed out the 2020-21 academic year with a cumulative GPA of 3.79 as a kinesiology major, and she is on track to graduate in just three and a half years this upcoming December. Athletically, Agina was the National Champion in the high jump, clearing a personal-best height of 1.85m (6' ¾") at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Not only did the jump earn her the national title, but it also placed her 11th all-time in NCAA Division II history in the event and secured her a spot at the 2021 United States Olympic Team Trials in Oregon. In addition to her individual success, her national title scored 10 points for Azusa Pacific at the Nationals, where the Cougars claimed the first NCAA National Championship in school history. At the PacWest Championships in May, the All-American won her second conference crown of her career, and she is currently first in PacWest history and second in the Azusa Pacific record books.
Wagner was the top student-athlete in women's tennis after she closed out her Cougar career with a 3.94 GPA (psychology) that earned her a CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large honor for the second-consecutive year, and on the court she was a First Team All-PacWest (singles) selection. Wagner posted a 16-2 singles record (15-2 at No. 3, 1-0 at No. 2), and a 15-4 doubles record. At the PacWest Championships, Wagner led the Cougars to the program's first-ever conference championship, as she went undefeated in singles and doubles in each of Azusa Pacific's three matches, including the match-clinching point in the championship match against Hawai'i Pacific when she defeated Mihoki Miyahara at No. 3 in three sets (6-2, 5-7, 6-1). She was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for her efforts.
Schnaitter graduated this spring with a GPA of 3.81 (business management) and was a CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large selection. On the court, Schnaitter earned his second PacWest Player of the Year award of his career and was an All-American in singles and doubles. He finished the season with an 18-1 singles record at No. 1, with all of his wins coming in straight-set dominant fashion, and he was ranked No. 6 in the nation in the final rankings by the ITA. In doubles, he and partner Leyton Bohren finished third in the national rankings after they went 17-3. In the program record books, he is second in winning percentage at No. 1 singles (.957), third in singles wins at No. 1 (44) and winning percentage in singles & doubles (.833), and fourth in singles winning percentage (.928).
Agina, Wagner, and Schnaitter are now eligible for the PacWest Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as there is one women's winner and one men's winner, which is voted on by the athletic directors of the PacWest-member institutions. It is the highest individual academic honor in the PacWest.
