Nov. 9, 2015
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa student-athlete academic services office announced Monday that junior Desmond King (football), and sophomores Annika Olsen (volleyball) and Madison Waymire (cross country) have been named October student-athletes of the month.
The academic award honors University of Iowa student-athletes who display excellence in athletics, academics, and community service, as voted on by their peers.
King, a native of Detroit, Michigan, leads the nation with eight interceptions. He recorded his eighth interception of the season against Indiana in Week 9 to tie the single-season school record (Nile Kinnick, 1939; Lou King, 1981).
King was named Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Jim Thorpe national Player of the Week following a pair of interceptions at Wisconsin on Oct. 3. He is one of 16 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the best defensive back in football.
Outside of athletics and the classroom, King has volunteered his time at the Make-A-Wish Kid’s Foundation, Dance Marathon, the Veteran’s Hospital, and Day of Caring.
Olsen led the volleyball team with a 5.23 digs per set during the month of October. The Johns Creek, Georgia, native currently leads the Big Ten with a 4.94 digs per set in conference matches. She reached double digit dig totals in all 10 October matches, including a career-high 26 in Iowa’s win over Rutgers on Oct. 31.
Waymire is the first Hawkeye to lead the cross country team in five consecutive races since 2008. The Grimes, Iowa, native posted a collegiate-best 21:01.8 in the 6,000 meters at the Big Ten Championships. Her time ranks 10th on Iowa’s all-time performers list.