Conference USA Scholar Athletes of the Year were awarded to WKU pitcher Katie Gardner, WKU setter Callie Bauer, and WKU golfer Catie Craig (WKU Athletics)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – WKU setter Callie Bauer, WKU golfer Catie Craig and WKU pitcher Katie Gardner were named Conference USA Scholar Athletes of the Year on Friday, as voted upon by the league’s Faculty Athletics Representatives.
WKU’s three honorees were tied for the most in the conference.
Bauer, who was a redshirt sophomore and is from Hudson, Mich., was named AVCA All-Region honorable mention in 2023. She also earned CUSA first team All-Conference and was named to the CUSA All-Tournament team, helping the Hilltoppers to a 30-5 mark and NCAA Tournament Round of 32 appearance. Bauer led WKU with 1,246 assists and added 136 kills, 186 digs and 27 service aces.
Craig, a junior from Sautee Nacoochee, Ga., won two times during her 2023-24 season, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA East Lansing Regional. She was named CUSA first team All-Conference, and finished inside the Top 10 in all 10 tournaments leading into NCAA Regionals, with nine Top-Five marks. Her 70.8 scoring average shattered the program’s single-season mark.
Craig, a junior from Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, qualified for the NCAA East Lansing Regional as an at-large candidate after winning twice in her 2023–24 campaign. She earned a spot on the CUSA first team All-Conference team and nine Top Five finishes, placing her inside the Top 10 in every tournament that led to the NCAA Regionals. Her 70.8 scoring average broke the school record for the most points in a season.
In 2024, Gardner—a Bowling Green, Kentucky, senior in his fifth year—was selected as Conference USA Pitcher of the Year. With 16 wins in the circle and 136 strikeouts, she had the best earned run average (2.68) among CUSA pitchers. The NFCA also awarded her to the first team All-Conference in CUSA and the third team All-Region. Her Hilltopper career came to an end with a 2.88 ERA, 509 strikeouts, and 48 victories.