COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Melissa Moreni of the Mountain Lion women's track and field program and Kit Wigington of the Mountain Lion baseball program have been named the 2023-24 Student Athletes of the Year, announced Tuesday by the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Department of Athletics.   
 
The Student Athlete of the Year Award is presented annually to the top male and female student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom and made a significant impact for their program.
 
Melissa Moreni, Women's Track & Field, 3.941 GPA, Biology Major (Senior, Hurdles/Sprints, Helena, Mont. / Capital High School)
 
2024 Outdoor Season Highlights and Stats

• Competed in 6 meets in spring outdoor season
• 8^th in DII for the 100m Hurdles, National Qualifying Mark (13.74s)
• Finished 2^nd at RMAC Outdoor Championships
• 1^st Team All-RMAC 100m Hurdles

 
2023-24 Indoor Season Highlights and Stats

• USTFCCCA First Team All-America (60m Hurdles)
• USTFCCCA All-Region Honors (60m Hurdles)
• RMAC All-Academic First Team
• All-RMAC First Team (60m Hurdles)
• RMAC Track Athlete of the Week (Dec. 13)
• Placed 1^st in the 60m Hurdles at the CRC Pre-Holiday Invite and Multi, UCCS Invite, and Mines Winter Classic and Multi
• Finished 8^th in 60m Hurdles at NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships

 
Melissa Moreni's Career Highlights

• School record holder for outdoor 100m hurdles (13.60s)
• School record holder for indoor 60m hurdles (8.46s)
• Three First-Team All-America Honors (Indoor & Outdoor)
• One Second-Team All-America Honor (2021-22 Indoor Season 60m Hurdles)
• Two CSC Third-Team Academic All-America selections
• Two CSC Academic All-District selections
• Seven USTFCCCA All-Region selections (Indoor & Outdoor)
• Two RMAC All-Academic First Team selections
• Three RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll selections
• Nine First Team All-RMAC selections (Indoor & Outdoor)
• Five RMAC Track Athlete of the Week Honors (Indoor & Outdoor)

"I am extremely proud of Missy for all her hard work and dedication on the track as well as in the classroom that led to this incredible award," said UCCS Head Track & Field Coach Ross Fellows. "This is a great honor for Missy, every time she stepped on the track this season, she put on a show. I'm excited to see her carry this momentum into the National Championships."
   
Kit Wigington, Baseball, 3.764 GPA, Mechanical Engineering (Junior, Colorado Springs, Colo. / Pine Creek High School)
 
2024 Season Highlights and Stats:

• 39 Starts in 41 Games
• 52 Hits (3^rd most on team), 14 Doubles (Tied for most on team), 5 Home Runs (5^th most on team)
• 26 Runs Batted In (4^th on team), 27 Runs Scored (3^rd on team)
• .340 Batting Average (6^th best on team), .529 Slugging Percentage (5^th best on team), .417 On Base Percentage (4^th best on team)

Kit Wigington Career Highlights:

• 2022 CSC Academic All-America First Team Selection
• 2022 ABCA/Rawlings All-America Third Team
• 2022 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team
• 2022 CSC Academic All-District First Team
• 2023 CSC Academic All-District selection
• 2022 NCBWA All-Region Second Team
• 2023 All-RMAC First Team
• 2022 All-RMAC First Team
• 2022 RMAC All-Academic First Team

UCCS Head Baseball Coach Dave Hajek shared his thoughts on Kit Wigington's honor. "Kit has worked extremely hard, both in the classroom and on the field for the last four years. He has excelled in both programs and exemplifies what being a Mountain Lion student athlete is all about."

2023-24 UCCS CUSPYs Awards Schedule
Monday, May 6 - Athletes of the Year – Isabella Whitmore & Alex Andersson
Tuesday, May 7 - Student-Athletes of the Year – Melissa Moreni & Kit Wigington
Wednesday, May 8 - Newcomers of the Year
Thursday, May 9 - Athletic Director Award