NEW ORLEANS, La. – Stephanie Cotter and the Adams State women's cross country team headlined the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) academic awards, which were released on Thursday, January 26, 2023. The Adams State women's team received the Scholar Team of the Year award and Stephanie Cotter received the Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year award.
 
This marks the third time that an Adams State women's cross-country athlete has received this award and the second time that Cotter has been honored as the Scholar Athlete of the Year, previously winning the award after the 2019 cross country season. In addition to winning the women's cross-country championship by the largest margin in the race's history, finishing 42.5 seconds ahead of second place, she also excelled in the classroom with a perfect 4.0 GPA in her graduate studies.
 
The Adams State women have earned the USTFCCCA Scholar Team of the Year award for the 8th time in the program's history. The Grizzlies women have received this award more than any other program in the award's history, previously earning the award in 2006, 2007, 2088, 2009, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
 
In addition to the Scholar Team and Athlete of the Year awards, six other women also received USTFCCCA All-Academic awards: Morgan Hykes, Nicole Lawrence, Maggie McCleskey, Precious Robinson, Brianna Robles and Emily Schoellkopf.
 
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-30 percent of their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers.